Excuse Me, Sophie Tea

In this episode of The Excuse Me Podcast, Erin-Atlanta Argun is joined by Sophie Tea, a contemporary artist, community builder, master-marketer, and self-proclaimed expert charity shop rummager.

Since 2014, Sophie has been on a mission to make women feel just a little bit nicer about themselves, celebrating diverse female bodies through her vibrant, joyful work. She first gained major visibility in 2017 after going viral at a festival, and that effervescence has carried through everything she's done since. Entering the art world without a degree, contacts, or, in her own words, a great deal of skill, Sophie faced rejection from every gallery she approached. Rather than give up, she took a different approach entirely, masterfully building a cult following on social media that has since led to her opening her own galleries on London's Carnaby Street and in Manly, Sydney.

Social media is central to Sophie's practice, not just as a promotional tool, but as a space for documenting her process and sparking meaningful conversations around her art. Her beloved Charity Shop Fridays series sees her sourcing items to transform before returning them to be raffled. More recently, she became one of the first artists to officially sell work through TikTok Shop, which launched a new fine art category specifically for her collection.

In this episode, Sophie and Erin explore what it means to build an art business on your own terms, the power of community and inclusivity, and how social media can be a genuine force for good in the art world. And, of course, Sophie answers the Excuse Me question…