Sofia Zengo Papadhimitri

• Birth Name — Sofia Zengo • Birthplace — Korçë, Principality of Albania • Born — 19 March 1915 • Place of death — Tirana, PR Albania • Died — 13 June 1976 • Education — Athens School of Fine Arts • Occupation — Painter • Relatives — Androniqi Zengo Antoniu (sister) • Known for — Early Albanian woman painter

Sofia Zengo was born on 19 March 1915 in Korçë to an artistic family. She was the daughter of Vangjel Zengo, an iconographer, and his wife Vasiliqa. She took her first drawing lessons in Korçë under the supervision of Vangjush Mio. In 1934, she went with her sister to study at the Athens School of Fine Arts. In 1939, she graduated with honours for painting, in the class of the famous Greek impressionist, Spiros Vikatos. During her studies, together with her father, she painted the interior of the Holy Trinity Church in Korçë. During the Second World War, she painted icons and portraits. After the end of the war, she moved to Tirana, where she worked as a drawing teacher at a school. In 1947, she married the sculptor Akile Papadhimitri, with whom she had two sons, Jani and Evangjel. From 1945 to 1971 her paintings were displayed at nine exhibitions of Albanian art. In 1965, on the 50th anniversary of the artist's birth, an exhibition of her works was organized at the headquarters of the League of Writers and Artists of Albania. In 1971 she retired from teaching. She died in Tirana on 13 June 1976.