Artist Statement
I am interested in how tenderness can become a form of resistance in environments shaped by hardness. Through sculpture, drawing and installation, I create speculative worlds inhabited by fragile bodies that navigate displacement, transformation and coexistence. Within these spaces, tenderness is not a passive gesture but a resilient force: a way of remaining connected, caring and imaginative despite social, political and emotional pressures.
Growing up in a post-Soviet housing estate and later experiencing migration shaped my understanding of how larger political realities become embedded in architecture, everyday life and interpersonal relationships. Rather than representing these experiences directly, I translate them into sculptural environments populated by hybrid figures that exist between the familiar and the unfamiliar, the human and the other.
Working with materials such as ceramics, papier-mâché, wax, textiles and metal, I am drawn to the tension between fragility and endurance. My figures often appear vulnerable, yet they persist. They care for one another, form temporary communities and search for ways of living together within uncertain conditions. Through them, I explore questions of belonging, unhomeliness, collective memory and adaptation.
My installations function as small-scale models of possible worlds. Influenced by feminist perspectives, post-Soviet histories and speculative imagination, I am interested in how alternative forms of coexistence can be envisioned from positions of vulnerability, togetherness and support rather than power. The future in my work is something negotiated through relationships in the present.
Alongside my studio practice, I develop participatory projects and workshops that create spaces for encounter, dialogue and collective imagination. Across different formats, I understand art as a way of bringing people into relation and of rehearsing other ways of being together.
At the core of my practice lies the belief that tenderness is not the opposite of strength. It is one of the ways we survive, transform and build futures together.
Photo by Kartin Steffer
CV ANNA BOCHKOVA
Education
2021-2023
HFBK: Master of Fine Arts(sculpture) class of Pia Stadtbäumer
2016-2021
Academy of Fine Arts: MFA in Textual sculpture class of Heimo Zobernig
2014-2016
MHAT Theatre Academy: Stage Design, class of Stanislav Benediktov
Awards & Grants & Residencies
Frame DH Residency, Bologna IT
Paper Residency, Museum Haus des Papiers, 2025
stART.up scholarship, Claussen-Simon-Stiftung 2024-2025
Prisma Art Prize 13th edition honorable mention
Studio scholarship, Frappant e. V. supporter by Hamburgischen Kulturstiftung, 2023-2024
Examenstipendium, 2023
Social Student Award Hamburg 2022
Project grant of Freundeskreis HFBK Hamburg 2022
Masterstipendium des Freundeskreises der HFBK HAMBURG e.V.2022-2023
ERASMUS MOBILITY GRANT, 2020-2021
STEP TRAVEL grant, 2019
Support Grant, Latvian Art Academy of Fine Arts,2019
Project Funding Grant, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, 2019
Project Funding Grant, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, 2018
Second Year Scholarship, Academy of Fine Arts, 2017-2018
Exhibitions and projects:
2026
Leipzig, DE, Painting petals on planet ghost, Sluggg, group
Brno, CZ, Fragile Utopias, König Vlk Gallery, solo
Castelfranco Veneto, IT, Be the Difference with Art, group show, Museo casa Giorgione
Frankfurt, DE, Layers, EO Artspace, group show
Hamburg, DE, Mapping the Unseen, Villa Mutzenbecher, curated by Zahra Hasson-Taheri
Katowice, PL, Vortex Synapsis, MCX with KönigVlk Gallery, group show curated by Anna König Vlk
Gavirate, IT, Femina ad Artem, Chiostro del Voltore, group show curated by Elizaveta Andreeva
Bologna, IT, I dream of you jumping, Frame DH, group show curated by Laura Rositani und Sara Lorusso
2025
Mannheim, DE, Jahresgaben, Kunstverein Ludwigshafen, group show
Berlin, DE, Interplay, Haus des Papiers, group show
Venice, IT, Earthly Gleam, Teaser, group show
Luxemburg, LUX, Soft Futures, Capsules organized by Luxembourg Art Week (solo)
Cologne, DE, die gläserne Kette, Quartier am Hafen, group show curated by Salve Berlin
Hamburg, DE, Resonance, The Space, group show curated by Sarice Brudet
Hamburg, DE, die Sprache der Vögel, Westwerk. , duo show with Eilza Wagener
Neuss, DE, Unboxing experience: do you see her? Clemens Sels Museum, group show curated by Lara Bader and Marlene Kurz
Tiflis, GEO, When asleep and sleeping, Freizeit und The Gallery, Group show
Berlin, DE, Handle with care, EIGEN+ART LAB gallery, duo with Linda Lach
Hamburg, DE, Kunstverein Gastgarten, duo show with Judith Kisner
Venice, IT, Unexplored Realms, 10 & zero uno duo with Andrea Luzi
Hamburg, DE, Give me a smile, Feinkunst Krüger, group show
Rome,IT, Conflicting Feelings, Contemporary Cluster Rome, group show curated by Domenico De Chirico
Madrid, ES, The Bell Jar, MXM Gallery, group show curated by Victoria Rivers
Bologna, IT, Art Bologna with Mimmo Scognamiglio (group show)
2024
Verona, IT, Art Verona with Galleria Mimmo Scognamiglio (nominated for the ceramic prize by Faeza Museum)
Prostejov, CZ, FSUP Prostejov, group show/festival
Hamburg, DE, Goodbye Blue Sky, MOM Art Space,duo show with Simone Kesting
Vienna, AT, Here and Now, Verein Skulptur/Neuer Kunstverein Vienna, curated by Herwig Kempinger and Kasia Matt-Uszynska, group show
Hamburg, DE, Sleeping Quarters, Frappant Gallery, solo show
Horice, CZ, Kosmos, Muzeum a galerie Horice, group show and international festival
Bratislava, SVK, Reaching the Earth, Umrian Contemporary, solo show
Carinthia, AT, Wo das Heimische unheimlich wird - ein Grenzgang, Grünspan, group show
Milan, IT, “Punteggiato di luce, giaceva lì, scintillante, Galleria Mimmo Scognamiglio, curated by Milena Zanetti
Cologne, DE, Amoured Concrete, Artothek Köln, solo show
Bratislava, SVK, Unpetrified, Umrian Contemporary, group show
Krakow,PL, WOMAN ARTIST ON THE MOVE, Dom Norymberski, group show curated by Anka Lesniak
Ravenna,IT, Un Paradiso Amaro *Visita di Ravenna, Polo delle Arti di Ravenna, group show curated by Judith Augustinovic and Valerie Habsburg
Hamburg, DE, Andere Verhältnisse, Kunsthaus Hamburg, group show curated by Ev van Hettmer
2023
Hamburg, DE, These Hands That Keep Betraying Me, Hinterconti, duo with Judith Delgado
Vienna, AT, sharing sessions, Motherboard curated by Sara Alavi Kia, Doris Richter and Stephanie Winter
Vienna, AT, Vienna Art Week, open studio days with Alfred Rottensteiner
Warsaw, PL, Warsaw>KIN<Berlin, Galeria Promocyjna, curated by Elisabeth Sonneck and Katie Zazenski
Yerewan, ARM, What Happened, when? Arten Theatre, group show curated by Vladimir Serykh
Hannover, DE, Archaic Futures, ADAD Space, group show curated by SALVE Berlin
Leipzig, DE, Youth Sanctuary, KULTURHaus/Josephkonsum, group show
Olomouc, CZ, Constructing Utopia,XY Gallery, group show curated by Anna Bochkova
Hamburg, DE, Positions 2, Kunstfabrik, group show by BBK Hamburg curated by Carsten Rabe
Vienna, AT, Über Das Neue (On The New) , Belvedere 21
Vienna, AT, Supermodels, Kunstraum Super, kuratiert von Bianca Pedrina
Rome, IT, Bitter Paradise/Viaggio a Roma, Austrian Cultural Forum, group show curated by Judith Augustinovic and Valerie Habsburg
Prague, CZ, Echo of Depth in Space, Pragovka, group show curated by Anna König Vlk LINK
Hamburg, DE, Painful Tenderness, Hinterconti, group show curated by Judith Hofer
2022
Hamburg, DE, Anonymous Drawer, HYCP, group show
Jerewan/Online, AM, Where are all the painters? Group show curated by ddd.kunsthouse
Rome, IT,TheAppearance Formula, group show, Andrea Festa Fine Arts, curated by Benedetta Monti
Prague, CZ, Remember Teach Nature, group show, Pop up Gallery AVU for SUMO Prague
Vienna, AT, Just Around The Cosmos, Kunstraum Super, curated by Bianca Pedrina, solo show
Potsdam, DE, Der Mensch verlinkt den Kosmos, Rechenzentrum Potsdam, group show
Hamburg, DE, Silver Lining, GastGarten gallery, group show
Los Angeles, USA, Related to Transition, SuperBien! at Take Care LA, group show
Hamburg, DE, Imagining Health, HFBK Gallery, group show
Vienna, AT, Ort Der Kraft, Site specific project around group of caves, curated by Anna Bochkova
Vienna, AT, Teach Nature, Kunsthaus Wien, Group show
Berlin, DE, Space Cradle, SuperBien! Solo show
Vienna, AT Lost Element. Re-Construction of the Witch, VBKOE Austrian Association of women artists, group show curated by Anka Lesniak
2021
Hamburg, DE I never promised you a rose garden, Einstellungsraum, group show
Vienna, AT Un Paradiso Amaro/Bitter Paradise, Xhibit, group show curated by Valerie Habsburg
Milan, IT ReA! Venera6, art fair
Klagenfurt, AT Philosophy of the common matter, Kunstraum LAKESIDE curated by Franz Thalmair and Gudrun Ratzinger, solo show
Hamburg, DE Rebound, Künsterhaus Sootbörn, group show
Prague, CZ This Mess We're In, Svetova1 , group show curated by Zai Xu and Michal Jalůvka
Milan, IT Expansa, Tempio del future perduto space, group show curated by NudiBranchi curatorial collective
Vienna, AT Smolka Contemporary, Eco Flirt, group show in frames of Vienna Biennale curated by Elisabeth von Samsonow
Internet 5x3 Space, Temporary monument, solo project
Vienna, AT Aquarium SPACES, MFA degree show
Brno, CZ Industra, THE ROOM group show curated by David Bartos and Anna Bochkova
Prostejov, CZ Prostejov Contemporary Gallery, Convers[at]ions, group show curated by David Bartos
Vienna, AT Parallel Vienna Edition, Undoing Landscape
Vienna, AT Erste Foundation, Undoing Landscape vol.2., group show curated by Adam Szymczyk
Vienna, AT Xhibit, Undoing Landscape, group show curated by Adam Szymczyk
Vienna, AT Stoffe im Raum, Heiligenkreuzer Hof, group show
Hamburg, DE Einstellungsraum, Cosmic Poetics, solo show
Hamburg, DE The Room, offsite solo project
Hamburg, DE Silent Places, [inthebox] Kuenstlerhaus Sootboern, solo show
2020
Hamburg, DE Kunstverein Harburger Bahnhof, SU3, duo show with Naama Salzberg
Vienna, AT Grinzing, Non Fundo Do Mar, off site group show
Olomouc, CZ Basement Project, Of the Bodies Changed To Other Forms I Tell, solo show, curated David Bartos
Vienna, AT Exile Gallery, CRUEL SUMMER CAMP, first edition
Vienna, AT Palais Lichtenstein, Academy doesn't sleep, group show
Prague, CZ Pragovka, Erinnerungsinseln, duo show with Valerie Habsburg
Barcelona, ES Espacio88, Unlock, group show
Vienna, AT Vienna 10xx Kvartirnik, group show
Vienna, AT contribution (drawing) to coloring quarantine, Exile Gallery
Umea, SE group show, Galleri Socker “20x20x20’
2019
Ostrava, solo show, Galeria PODLAHA ‘Treasure Island’
Aalborg, solo show, ArtRoom1000Fryd 'Zeus,give me my EU pass'
Vienna, group show, Parallel Vienna 'Rethinking vulnerability'
Milan, solo exhibition, Spazio SERRA, Le città felici hanno l’architettura
Riga, group show and lecture, New Art Biennale Riga 'Art Future/Future Signs, Latvian Art Academy
Berlin, solo project and performance, Octagon: Zeus, give me my EU pass
Ljubljana, group exhibition, Mglc Ljubljana: #s02e02 curated by gallery7069
Vienna, solo project for Rundgang, In the morning we all awake sharp-eyed
2018
Prague, CZ solo exhibition, Meet Art: And we will flow like rivers
Vienna, AT solo exhibition, Aquarium: Surprise me with the truth
Tromsø, NO solo exhibition, Galleri Snerk: Memorabilia
Vienna, AT solo exhibition Aquarium: Hierarchy
Vienna, AT Kurzbauergasse, Performance lecture 'Victory over the sun. An homage to the titans of art'
Graz, AT Karl-Franzens-University: Performance lecture and pop-up exhibition as part of the seminar 'I'll be your mirror'
2017
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