We are pleased to announce that Sophie Laurent's complete "Intimate Portraits" series has been acquired by a prominent European private collection. The acquisition, which includes all twelve works from the series created between 2022 and 2024, represents one of the most significant private acquisitions of contemporary portraiture in recent years.
Laurent's "Intimate Portraits" series represents a culmination of her practice, bringing together years of research into the psychological and emotional dimensions of portraiture. Each work in the series was created through extended sessions with the subject, during which Laurent sought to understand not just their physical appearance, but their personal history, emotional state and the stories they carry.
The series includes portraits of artists, writers, musicians and other cultural figures, each rendered with Laurent's characteristic sensitivity to light, expression and psychological depth. The works are notable for their incorporation of elements from the subjects' personal environments — fragments of their homes, objects of significance, or glimpses of their daily routines — creating layered narratives that extend beyond mere representation.
"These portraits are psychological studies," Laurent explains. "They explore the complex relationship between external appearance and internal experience. Each face tells a story, and my role is to make that story visible."
The acquisition was facilitated by Domus Picturae, which has represented Laurent since the gallery's opening. "Sophie's work represents everything we value at Domus Picturae," says gallery director Elena Marchetti. "It's technically masterful, emotionally resonant and deeply engaged with the human condition. This acquisition is a well-deserved recognition of her contribution to contemporary art."
The collector, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed particular interest in Laurent's ability to capture what she calls "the inner life" of her subjects. "These portraits go beyond likeness," the collector notes. "They reveal something essential about the human experience — the weight of memory, the complexity of emotion, the stories we carry in our faces."
The series will be exhibited publicly for the first time at Domus Picturae in October 2025, before entering the private collection. Laurent continues to work on new portraits, with several commissions currently in progress, and her work remains available through the gallery.