Opening Reception: Present in the Past – Sofie Swann at Chroma Gallery

Saturday, May 16, 4–8 p.m.

Show dates: May 12 – June 7, 2026

Chroma Fine Art Gallery is pleased to present Present in the Past – Sofie Swann, a solo exhibition of abstract paintings on view from May 12 through June 7. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 4–8 p.m., in conjunction with the Katonah Art Walk.

Created between 2014 and 2018, Present in the Past explores the fluid nature of memory—both real and imagined—through repetition, rhythm, and abstract form. Swann’s layered compositions are built from recurring motifs that move across the surface like visual echoes, reflecting emotions, impressions, and moments that remain vivid while shifting over time.

Using repetition as a visual language, Swann creates paintings that feel both meditative and deeply personal. Her process is intuitive and spontaneous, guided more by emotion than representation. Through color, texture, and pattern, each work becomes a reflection of memory and feeling rather than a depiction of a specific scene or event. As the artist states, “I don’t paint what I see, I paint what I feel.”

Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Swann fled her home country at a young age before eventually settling in the United States. Her work is informed by themes of displacement, identity, and the search for belonging. Hidden within each painting is her signature “house” motif, a symbolic reference to the idea of home and her lifelong journey of finding it.

Swann studied at Smith College, holds a law degree, and continued her artistic training at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. She was awarded Best in Show in the prestigious 68th annual Art of the Northeastcompetition at Silvermine Arts Center.

Chroma Fine Art Gallery warmly invites the public to attend the opening reception on Saturday, May 16, from 4–8 p.m., and experience Present in the Past – Sofie Swann during the Katonah Art Walk.