CV

Martyna Pekala (2000, Poland, she/her) is a multimedia artist based in the Netherlands. Within her practice, she explores the notion of online identity by repurpusing and sampling her own self-image and incorporating various Internet symbols. Through video, installation, performance, and costume making, she strives to question the pivotal role that individual and collective identities play in ascribing meaning to virtual worlds that in turn, impact the understanding of our physical reality. In her multidisciplinary practice, the starting point is usually digital, but tends to take on a tangible form to highlight the blurred line between the physical and virtual realities. The artist’s deep-dive into the online spaces of her childhood and youth manifests through vivid colors, bold patterns, and whimsical compositions. However, beneath the comical and, at times, overly cute absurdity, an undercurrent of escapist discomfort attempts to seep through, prompting us to question whether the pursuit of ‘staying connected’ may paradoxically lead to our growing disconnection.

martyna.m.pekala@gmail.com

Education

2018 – 2022 – University of the Arts Utrecht BA Fine arts

2014 – 2018 – Canadian International School of Beijing, IB Diploma

Exhibitions

RUMBLE – AG

PALET In Red – Lofi

Reunion 25:50 – Sydhavn Teater

Artjam – The Sun

Durga Puja Festival 2023

Preview Show of 2023 Durga Puja Art – Town Hall

Not All That Glitters is Pixel – Exboot

De Belofte 18: Façade – Kunstliefde

Not All That Glitters is Pixel (solo) – 37PK

1000 Shape-Shifting Chocolate Chips – Laak Club

Not All That Glitters is Pixel (VJ) – Future Intel

Ticket to the future – Omstand

Metamorphosis (VJ) – Club Altelier

Uitfeest – Art Utrecht

Ecotone – De Nijverheid

Graduation Show – Melkweg

Songs by the Creek – Gallery Flyvsk

HKU Exposure – Pastoe Fabriek

Beats in the Woods – NAR Cafe der Kunsten

Internationale Vrouwendag – NAR Cafe der Kunsten

Metamorphosis – Sexyland

Hit the Curb – EKKO

Astroworld: Exit Tourism – KUN Art Museum

Utrecht (NL) | April 2024

Amsterdam (NL) | March 2024

Copenhagen (DK) | January 2024

Rotterdam (NL) | December 2023

Kolkata (IN) | October 2023

Kolkata (IN) | October 2023

Utrecht (NL) | July 2023

Utrecht (NL) | June 2023

Haarlem (NL) | April 2023

The Hague (NL) | April 2023

The Hague (NL) | January 2023

Arnhem (NL) | October 2022

Amsterdam (NL) | October 2022

Utrecht (NL) | September 2022

Utrecht (NL) | September 2022

Amsterdam (NL) | August 2022

Flensburg (DE) | August 2022

Utrecht (NL) | June 2022

Utrecht (NL) | April 2022

Utrecht (NL) | March 2022

Amsterdam (NL) | February 2022

Utrecht (NL) | July 2021

Beijing (CN) | June 2021

Residencies

Sep-Nov 2023 – Behala Nutan Dal, Kolkata (IN)

Jan-Apr 2023 – DOC4, Haarlem (NL)

Publications/Nominations/Other

November 2023 – Kunstliefde Prize 2023/winner

Jan-Apr 2023 – Melkweg Companions Trajectory – mentored by FOAM’s Head of Public Practice Amelie Schüle

Aug-Sep 2022 – Featured in Metropolis M, Eindexamen 2022

July 2022 –  Travis Geertuida Research Prize/nominated

Jun-Aug 2021 – Internship for Anne-Jan Reijn

July 2021 – Video documentation – Common Ground, solo show by Ilona Plaum

January 2020 – Flag design for exhibition Psychedelic Oshawa