Born in 1982 in Cluj, Romania
Based in Reykjavik and Vienna
I am a multimedia artist. Each project begins with an idea that stays with me, and the form almost unfolds by itself. Sometimes it becomes a costume that can stand alone as a sculpture, sometimes it extends into photography or video. I also work with performance, discussion formats and even food. In my artistic practice, concept and process are central, and everything I create carries symbolic meaning.
My work revolves around three main themes.
The first is the relationship between humans and nature. My grandparents ran a self sufficient farm in Transylvania, surrounded by primeval forests where I loved to spend time. After the fall of the Ceausescu regime, my family fled as political refugees to Austria. At first we lived in a refugee shelter, later in a forest house in the Vienna Woods. In this new country I often felt alienated, yet in the forest, in nature, I have always felt at home, no matter where in the world I am. I believe that we can only solve our ecological challenges by reconnecting with nature.
The second theme is the relationship between humans and the artificial. My first eight years were shaped by Romanian communism, which made me deeply sensitive to the dangers of surveillance and total control. The plastic costumes in my work symbolize the transparent human, the alienation from nature and extend into narratives of human machine hybrids and cyborgs.
The third theme is impermanence. I collect photographs from flea markets or estates and rework them. Yet no matter how much we pursue self optimization or technological progress, death remains inevitable. For me, these three themes are inseparably connected and intricately intertwined.
EDUCATION
2013- 2019 Diploma at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Photography dep. Gabriele Rothemann
2018 Masters in Fine Arts, Academy of the Arts Iceland, Bryndis Snaebjornsdottir
2003-2007 Teaching profession as a metalworking technician, WIFI Salzburg, Austria
MEMBER
of the Living Art Museum Reykjavík
SIM, Icelandic Association of Icelandic Visual Artists
IG-Bildendekunst
PEPRESENTED BY:
SKM Gallery Leibzig, Germany
Base AT4, Vienna, Austria
REPRESENTED IN ART COLLECTIONS
Arendt, Luxembourg
Esther Atter
Privat Collections
SELECTED NOMINATION FOR ART PRICES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2025 Muggur Travel Grant
2025 Nominated for the St. Leopold Friedenspreis
2021 Nominated for the European Month of Photography Arendt Award
2020 Nominated for the St. Leopold Friedenspreis
2013-2018 Independent Student Grant, Stipendienstelle Wien
2017 Erasmus Scholarship, MA of fine Arts, Academy of the Arts Iceland 2016 Abroad scholarship, University of applied arts, Vienna
2016 Scholarship of the European Forum Alpbach
2015 Merit-based Grand of the University of Applied Arts Vienna
SELECTED SCREENINGS
2025 EUTOPIA International Symposium on Science, Art & Community, Cluj, Romania
2016 Videodrome curated by Anna Jermolajewa, Fotogalerie Wien, Vienna
2014 In an other dark room, short film festival curated by Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Gartenbaukino, Vienna
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2026 What Remains, Gallery Base AT4, Vienna (up coming Februar)
2025 24 1⁄2, Gabriele Rothemann, Abteilung Fotografie, Atelier Augarten, Vienna
On the Blue Planet, Long Night of Museums, Colegul Academic UBB, Cluj, Romania
Gott und Geld, Musem, Stift Kloster Neuburg, Ausrtia
2024 A Yellow Dream 02, Hamraborg Festival 2024, Iceland
A Yellow Dream 01, Litla Gallerý, Hafnarfjörður Iceland
Rolling Snowball 16, ARS LONGA’s, Djúpivogur, Iceland
2023 Oculus Foto Festival, Palazzo Fortuny, Venice
Charity Auktion Art for Children, Prunksälen of Albertina, Veinna
Austria If you go i wanna go with you, Bräuhasgasse 21, Vienna, Austria
FLÆÐI in collaboration with “Menningarnótt”, Iceland
2022 Torg Art Fair Reykjavik 2022, Iceland
Corralation, SÍM Salur, Reykjavik, Iceland
Gallery Kannski, Reykjavik, Iceland
FLÆÐI exhibition at RUSL fest 2022, Gufunes, Iceland
FOTO Wien, Festival Zentrale: Atelier Augarten, Vienna, Austria
2021 Parallel Vienna, Studio 3, Vienna
IMAGO, MUSEU DA ÁGUA, Lisbon
Rethinking Nature/Rethinking Landscape EMOPLUX, Arndt House, Luxembourg
Rethinking Nature/Rethinking Landscape, CERCLE CITÉ, Luxembourg
Einmachglas, Weiße Box, Austria
Was Leid tut, Sala terrena Galerie, Stift Kloster Neuburg
2020 Keep on doing Art, Showrooms Karlsplatz, Red Carpet for jung Art, Vienna
2019 Transparent dreams, University of Applied Arts, Vienna,
2018 Bable Radio 101.1FM broadcast, The Living Art Museum, Reykjavik
Aperto per ferie, Arti Visive Gallery, Madera, Italy
Unicorn tears and big desires, Llorar Kunstgalerie, Mexico City
As intimity, Stukav Brischko, Galerie G99, Brno
Myndlist Hönnun Fine Art, Gerðarsafn Kópavogur Art Museum, Reykjavik
Let‘s get lucid, RÝMD, Reykjavik2017 Magdalena used her time to enter hidden spaces, Kubburinn, Reykjavik
2016 The turtle,Chongqing-Vienna, Heiligenkreuzer Hof , curated by PRINZpod, Vienna
Closer inspection reveals, Eyes On / European Month of Photography, Mican Offspace, Vienna
Glance, Eyes on / European Month of Photography, Heiligenkreuzer Hof, Vienna
Open House, University of applied arts, Vienna
Tools of enlightenment, European Forum Alpbach 2016, Tyrolia
Essence, University of Applied Arts, Alte Post, Vienna
Singular, Galerie Z, Hard, Organhaus, Chongqing, China
2015 I moved one until I went back, Blockfrei Curators Agenda, University of Applied Arts, Vienna
Open House, University of applied arts, Vienna
Konvolut21, Ho-Gallery, Vienna
Essence, University of Applied Arts, Künstlerhaus, Vienna
2014 Pretty Raw, Eyes On / European Month of Photography, Vienna
Auf der Suche nach dem missglückten Bild, curated by Timm Ulrichs, Vienna
Cabin #99 23 hour show, Yosemite National Park, USA
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2020 April Ausgabe, Vor Magazin, Seite 34-35
2019 Aperto per ferie, Eine Publikation zur Studienreise der Studierenden der Klasse Fotografifie/
Univ.-Prof. Gabriele Rothemann nach Matera im Oktober 2018.
2016-17Spielzeit, Volkstheater, Page 42-43
2016 Eyes on, Monat der Fotografie Wien, European Month of photography, Page122-123
2016 #96 Eikon International Magazine for Photography and Media Art, 46-47
2015 Bilding, Photography at the University of applied arts Vienna 2007-2014. Page 554-555
2014 #88 Eikon, International Magazine for Photography and Media Art, Page 46-47