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Bio


Sophia Gatzkan (b.1995, Lipetsk, RU) is a Vienna-based visual artist. Her keen fascination for the human body with a focus on the discourse of disability continuously informs her creative work. Within her research, Sophia is theorising on non-normative morphology as an-other way of being, prompting critical inquiries into ethics, ideologies, and power structures within it. Sophia's work delves into the transformation of the human body by transcending its morphological integrity, creating sculptures that capture corporeal ambiguity and fluidity, offering a captivating site of disruption and reflection on the human complexities.

Sophia holds an MFA from University of Applied Arts, Vienna and BFA from the University of Hertfordshire, UK. Her works have been exhibited at Neue Galerie Graz (2023), Leopold Museum, Vienna (2022), and abroad. Also she had various collaborations within the performing art field that were shown at Brut theatre,Vienna (2023), Inkonst theatre, Malmö (2021), and others. In 2022 she was awarded with Ö1 Talentestipendium, START Stipendium from the Federal Ministry of Culture, and Arbeitsstipendium from Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research this year.




CV
Education
2018 - 2022
2020
2014 - 2017
2015
MFA, Trans Arts Class, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria,
Oslo National Academy of the Arts, ERASMUS semester, Oslo, Norway
BFA at Hardfordshire University, UK
International Summer Academy, mentored by Nora Schulz, Salzburg, Austria
Solo exhibitions
2025
2024
2023
2022
2022
2020
Metal memory, Limbo Contemporary Gallery, Milan 
Memory of matter, Kunstverein Gastgarten, Hamburg
Clinical Fatigue, Artist Statement at Parallel Vienna
Acceleration Time of Desire, Einstellungsraum, Hamburg
Pararoman, Sala Terrena, University of Applied Arts, Vienna
YOU ARE WITHIN ME, Kunstraum am Schauplatz, Vienna 
Selected group exhibitions
2025
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2022
2021
2021
2021
2020
2020
2020
2019
2018
The neoliberal urge to curate a friendsgroup, ACUD Gallery, Berlin
Raw upon Raw, with Sofia Goscinski, Sussudio, Vienna
Material Mutants, with Julie Hayward, Hochsommer Festival, KS Room, Feldbach
Gallery Weekend, Berlin
Blown Up Snakes and Cosmic Eggs, Clubclub art space, Vienna
Everyone can lace on space-age shoes, Neu Galerie Graz Studio, Graz
Mechanisms of Occupant Ejection, Postgarage, Graz
JUICED, Zirkusgasse 38 Project Space, Vienna
Acting in the Now, Leopold Museum, Vienna
Keeping Up with the Trouble: Drama, Brut Nordwest, Vienna
Chambre d’Ami·xes, Laurenz Art Space, Vienna
INTÉRIEUR A Tribute To Erwin Hauer, Club Club, Vienna
inframince | infra-mince | infra mince, Heiligenkreuzerhof, Vienna
Oh yah, Humanity, Kunstnernes Hus Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Vienna Contemporary Art Fair, Vienna
Thomas Supper and Sophia Gatzkan at Laurenz Space, Vienna
NaJa, WelllWellWell Gallery, Vienna
ScukptFest, Carving Studio & Sculptural Centre, Vermont, USA 
Artist Talks and Lectures
2024
2024

2024
Sculptural Syntax, Trans Arts Class, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Raw upon Raw, conversation between Sofia Goscinsky and Sophia Gatzkan within Vienna Art Week, Sussudio art space, Vienna
Material Mutants, in conversation between Sophia Gatzkan and Julie Hayward, KS Room  

Performing arts
2024
2024
2023
2022 - 2021
I carry all the names I’m given, performance with Magdalene Forster at Sussudio art space within Vienna Art  Week program
Blue Carrousel, by Lisa Colette Bysheim und Katrin Parry, Danses Hus, Oslo
Stroke all the colours out of the sky, by Asher O’Gorman, Brut Bordwest Theatre, Vienna
Putting the Garden to Sleep, Performance Fiction Festival, at Toihaus Theatre, Salzburg, Skogen Theatre, Gothenburg, Inkonst, Malmö
Scholarships and Awards
2023 - 2025
2023 - 2024
2023
2022
2022
2022
START Atelier Stadt Wien
Arbeitsstipendium Bundesministerium Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung 
Bildrecht Young Artist Award
Ö1 Talentstipendium
START Stipendium Bundesministerium
Nominated to SIMACEK ART Prize