Sophie Cool is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores social norms, body representation, and the mechanisms of identity assignment. With a professional background as a midwife, Cool possesses an intimate understanding of the human body in its states of vulnerability and strength—an experience that deeply informs their visual inquiries. Their work primarily utilizes portraiture and self-portraiture to challenge the societal injunctions and constraints often accepted without question. By staging everyday gestures and objects, they seek to reveal both the visible and invisible structures that shape human existence, reimagining the body as a site of autonomy and resistance.

In their series WHO AM I?, Cool employs a conceptual approach characterized by minimalist composition and clean lighting to question the core of individual identity. The series features self-portraits where the subject’s face is deliberately concealed, preventing direct identification and neutralizing emotional cues. By removing traditional markers of identity—such as facial expressions and social roles—they create a space for the viewer to project their own memories and interpretations onto the image. The work explores the tension between constructed appearances and the inner self, inviting a reconsideration of what truly defines an individual beyond appearances.

Cool’s career is distinguished by a blend of technical mastery and conceptual rigor, holding a diploma in Audiovisual Production and Image Techniques. Their work has gained significant international recognition, including multiple honors from PHOTO Magazine and a 3rd Prize at the Chromatic Awards. They were a finalist in the VIF Grand Contest and received an Honorable Mention at the REFOCUS Awards. Their photographs have been featured in prominent publications such as PHOTO DODHO Magazine, confirming their influence as a provocative voice on the international art scene.

Education & Training

2020

Diploma in Audiovisual Production and Image Techniques, France

1995

Midwife training, France

Exhibition & Projects (Selection)

2025

The Harmony of Chaos, VIF Exhibition, Vincennes, France

3rd Prize, Chromatic Awards (Portrait), International

Honorable Mention, REFOCUS Awards (Portrait), International

2024

Winner, PHOTO Magazine Issue #562 (Portrait), France

2023

Animals in the City, Avignon, France

2023

Winner, PHOTO Magazine Issue #554 (Animals), France

2021

Les Martines, Documentary Photography, France