TRULY MADLY DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH NAILS

SONYA MEESH (THEY/THEM ) IS A NON-BINARY MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST FROM NEW YORK CITY. THEY BOAST AN INCREDIBLE PORTFOLIO OF EDITORIAL WORK THAT REFLECTS THEIR CREATIVITY AND UNIQUE STYLE. WE SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT TRENDS, BRANDS, STYLE, AND WHY THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH NAILS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Melding their background in photography, sculpture, glass, ceramics and woodworking, Sonya's approach to nail design is rooted in experimentation and a meticulous eye for detail. Working from the studio to the red carpet, they have a star-studded client list that includes iconic Hollywood names like Natasha Lyonne, and theatre legends like Jordan Roth. What rings true between Sonya and each of their clients is their absolute individuality. This nail artist puts their clients and models at the heart of their design process. Sonya has a refined ability to reflect both themselves in their work whilst illustrating the personality of the person at their station. The resulting work is impressive, bold, truly artistic, and even when working with neutrals, they somehow manage to make the nail stand out from the rest… We wanted to know how their journey into nails began. Sonya gave us the 411: “My interest in nail art actually started when I first saw the September/ October 2000 issue of American Girl Magazine. I was nine years old, and an obsession started! I fell completely and deeply in love 10 years later when I went to Japan and witnessed first-hand the wild nail innovations and trends circulating in that part of the world. Little did I know it would eventually move into the mainstream over West, too.”

Now, their work has made it to the cover of Vogue and Nylon Mag, into collections with Chanel, and onto iconic red carpets including Anna Wintour’s Met Gala entranceway. Sonya is a true specialist in their craft. When did they know they wanted to take their nail art into the world of editorial and celebrity work? Sonya told us: “I’ve always wanted to be experimental with my (nail) art and I know a