Tanya Pioniker
b. in 1994 in Moscow, RU
Lives and works in Berlin, DE
BIO
Began her exhibition activities in 2011 with a solo show Wordless Confession (special project for young artists of CCA Winzavod, Moscow). In 2013 graduated from the Institute of Contemporary Art Moscow (ICA, named after Joseph Backstein). In 2014 took part in the parallel program of European Biennial Manifesta 10 (Generation Start). In 2017 solo show XVII took place in VLADEY Space (Moscow). The third solo exhibition New ABC-book (Gogol center, Moscow) and the solo show of etchings Seven (JART Gallery, Moscow) were held in 2021. In 2020, she was shortlisted for the ISCP residence (New York). In 2023 took part in Schloss Wiepersdorf (Germany, Brandenburg) Cultural Foundation fellowship program. The works were commissioned by ciconia ciconia publishing house (Berlin): Mannelig in Ketten, 2022 (Ilya Danishevsky), Leben mit einem Idioten, 2021 (Viktor Jerofejew). In 2025, the artist book Berlin ABC was published by сiconia ciconia publishing house, accompanied by an eponymous performance held in Volkshochschule (VHS) Berlin Mitte. In 2024−2025 worked on the collaborative animation project Love is… Red Flag with artist Igor Tsvetkov (Latvia/EU), presented at Masc Foundation (Vienna, Austria) in 2026. In 2026, she won the Recognition Prize of the STRABAG Art Award (Austria).
Lives and works in Berlin, DE
BIO
Began her exhibition activities in 2011 with a solo show Wordless Confession (special project for young artists of CCA Winzavod, Moscow). In 2013 graduated from the Institute of Contemporary Art Moscow (ICA, named after Joseph Backstein). In 2014 took part in the parallel program of European Biennial Manifesta 10 (Generation Start). In 2017 solo show XVII took place in VLADEY Space (Moscow). The third solo exhibition New ABC-book (Gogol center, Moscow) and the solo show of etchings Seven (JART Gallery, Moscow) were held in 2021. In 2020, she was shortlisted for the ISCP residence (New York). In 2023 took part in Schloss Wiepersdorf (Germany, Brandenburg) Cultural Foundation fellowship program. The works were commissioned by ciconia ciconia publishing house (Berlin): Mannelig in Ketten, 2022 (Ilya Danishevsky), Leben mit einem Idioten, 2021 (Viktor Jerofejew). In 2025, the artist book Berlin ABC was published by сiconia ciconia publishing house, accompanied by an eponymous performance held in Volkshochschule (VHS) Berlin Mitte. In 2024−2025 worked on the collaborative animation project Love is… Red Flag with artist Igor Tsvetkov (Latvia/EU), presented at Masc Foundation (Vienna, Austria) in 2026. In 2026, she won the Recognition Prize of the STRABAG Art Award (Austria).
ARTIST STATEMENT
My artistic practice is rooted in personal mythology. In multilayered graphic
works, I bring together the personal and the collective: through my own
experiences, I explore broader themes of identity, migration, and politics. I am
interested in moments of transition and in how people create symbolic languages to
articulate experiences that cannot be expressed in words.
My compositions are constructed as systems of symbols and visual ciphers. I draw
on different historical periods and their symbolic languages, searching for hidden
connections across time and exploring how their symbols and imagery can be
reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
Medieval bestiaries, magic, alchemy, folklore, poetry, religious iconography,
personal archival photographs, and contemporary visual culture converge in my
works. I approach composition as a space in which these elements can enter into
poetic relationships with one another. Languages and texts are integral to my visual
practice: they become part of the image and function as symbols themselves.
I combine traditional drawing techniques with unconventional organic materials,
emphasizing materiality in the digital age.
works, I bring together the personal and the collective: through my own
experiences, I explore broader themes of identity, migration, and politics. I am
interested in moments of transition and in how people create symbolic languages to
articulate experiences that cannot be expressed in words.
My compositions are constructed as systems of symbols and visual ciphers. I draw
on different historical periods and their symbolic languages, searching for hidden
connections across time and exploring how their symbols and imagery can be
reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
Medieval bestiaries, magic, alchemy, folklore, poetry, religious iconography,
personal archival photographs, and contemporary visual culture converge in my
works. I approach composition as a space in which these elements can enter into
poetic relationships with one another. Languages and texts are integral to my visual
practice: they become part of the image and function as symbols themselves.
I combine traditional drawing techniques with unconventional organic materials,
emphasizing materiality in the digital age.
EDUCATION
2012-2013
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA Moscow named after Joseph
Backstein), New Artistic Strategies Educational Program, Contemporary Art
Practice
2011-2015
Moscow State Institute of International Relations, International
Journalism, BA
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA Moscow named after Joseph
Backstein), New Artistic Strategies Educational Program, Contemporary Art
Practice
2011-2015
Moscow State Institute of International Relations, International
Journalism, BA
SOLO SHOWS
2026
Love is...Red Flag (together with Igor Tsvetkov). Säulen der Erinnerung - Pillars
of Memory. Vienna, AT
Berlin ABC (Performance). VHS Volkshochschule Berlin Mitte. Berlin, DE
2023
Berlin ABC. Open Studio Exhibition in the Framework of Annual Spring Festival.
Schloss Wiepersdorf Cultural Foundation. Brandenburg, DE
2021
New ABC-book. Gogol Center. Moscow, RU
Seven. JART Gallery. Moscow, RU
2017
XVII. VLADEY Space Gallery, Moscow, RU
2011
Wordless Confession. Special Project for Young Artists START. Winzavod
Contemporary Art Center, Moscow, RU
Love is...Red Flag (together with Igor Tsvetkov). Säulen der Erinnerung - Pillars
of Memory. Vienna, AT
Berlin ABC (Performance). VHS Volkshochschule Berlin Mitte. Berlin, DE
2023
Berlin ABC. Open Studio Exhibition in the Framework of Annual Spring Festival.
Schloss Wiepersdorf Cultural Foundation. Brandenburg, DE
2021
New ABC-book. Gogol Center. Moscow, RU
Seven. JART Gallery. Moscow, RU
2017
XVII. VLADEY Space Gallery, Moscow, RU
2011
Wordless Confession. Special Project for Young Artists START. Winzavod
Contemporary Art Center, Moscow, RU
FELLOWSHIPS / RESIDENCIES / AWARDS
2026
STRABAG Art Award. Recognition Prize Winner. Vienna, AT
2023
Kulturstiftung Schloss Wiepersdorf Residency and Fellowship Program,
Brandenburg, DE
2022
Weltoffenes Berlin Fellowship Program of Berlin Senate, Berlin, DE
2020
ISCP Residency Award (shortlist), New York, US
STRABAG Art Award. Recognition Prize Winner. Vienna, AT
2023
Kulturstiftung Schloss Wiepersdorf Residency and Fellowship Program,
Brandenburg, DE
2022
Weltoffenes Berlin Fellowship Program of Berlin Senate, Berlin, DE
2020
ISCP Residency Award (shortlist), New York, US
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2026
STRABAG Art Award 2026. Exhibition of the Winners. STRABAG Art Site,
Vienna, AT
Keep on Walking. Masc Foundation, Vienna, AT
2022
Between the Lines. Textual in Visual. Triumph Gallery, Moscow, RU
Mythogenic Love of Castes in Comics. Nakovalnya Gallery, Moscow, RU
2021
Named by Vasari. Gothic. Pushkin State Museum of Fine
Arts and NCCA Arsenal. Nizhny Novgorod, RU
Ouroboros. JART Gallery. Moscow, RU
Invitation to the Voyage. Gallery Victoria. Samara, RU2019 Faith in Deep Crisis. Gallery Victoria. Samara, RU
One Family. GUM-Red-Line Gallery. Moscow, RU
2018
Against Everyone. VLADEY Space. Moscow, RU
VIII International Tashkent Biennale of Contemporary Art. Simple numbers.
Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. Tashkent, UZ
2016
Monstration. VLADEY Space. Moscow, RU
2014
European Biennale of Contemporary Art Manifesta 10. Parallel Program.
Generation Start. St. Petersburg, RU
2013
The 5th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. Parallel Program. I’d
Rather Not Be Painting. Agency. Art Ru. Moscow, RU
2012
Reload. Red October Gallery. Moscow, RU
What makes us so special, so attractive? Agency. Art Ru. Moscow, RU
The 2nd Industrial Ural Biennale. P.S. How it is done. Guest Project.
Ekaterinburg, RU
2011
IX Krasnoyarsk Museum Biennale of Contemporary Art in Depth.
Choose by Heart. Special project. Krasnoyarsk, RU
STRABAG Art Award 2026. Exhibition of the Winners. STRABAG Art Site,
Vienna, AT
Keep on Walking. Masc Foundation, Vienna, AT
2022
Between the Lines. Textual in Visual. Triumph Gallery, Moscow, RU
Mythogenic Love of Castes in Comics. Nakovalnya Gallery, Moscow, RU
2021
Named by Vasari. Gothic. Pushkin State Museum of Fine
Arts and NCCA Arsenal. Nizhny Novgorod, RU
Ouroboros. JART Gallery. Moscow, RU
Invitation to the Voyage. Gallery Victoria. Samara, RU2019 Faith in Deep Crisis. Gallery Victoria. Samara, RU
One Family. GUM-Red-Line Gallery. Moscow, RU
2018
Against Everyone. VLADEY Space. Moscow, RU
VIII International Tashkent Biennale of Contemporary Art. Simple numbers.
Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. Tashkent, UZ
2016
Monstration. VLADEY Space. Moscow, RU
2014
European Biennale of Contemporary Art Manifesta 10. Parallel Program.
Generation Start. St. Petersburg, RU
2013
The 5th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. Parallel Program. I’d
Rather Not Be Painting. Agency. Art Ru. Moscow, RU
2012
Reload. Red October Gallery. Moscow, RU
What makes us so special, so attractive? Agency. Art Ru. Moscow, RU
The 2nd Industrial Ural Biennale. P.S. How it is done. Guest Project.
Ekaterinburg, RU
2011
IX Krasnoyarsk Museum Biennale of Contemporary Art in Depth.
Choose by Heart. Special project. Krasnoyarsk, RU
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