Mariya Vasilyeva

Mariya Vasilyeva (*1993, Kyiv) is a video and performance artist living and working between Austria and Germany.

With a background in fine arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and the University for Applied Arts in Vienna, Vasilyeva has developed an artistic practice that centers around live performances, digital collages and video installations. In these works, Vasilyeva portrays herself in various roles and scenarios, exploring themes such as power dynamics, their representation in private and public life, feminism and body politics. Her experiences as a Ukrainian immigrant in Western Europe have greatly influenced her art, leading her to question patterns of identity, particularly as a woman. Vasilyeva's focus on her own body and its vulnerability is recurring. Through digital manipulation, she transforms herself into an object, symbolizing societal power abuses. This approach has allowed her to reflect on social power structures, particularly how sexuality, religion, and racial norms shape the female embodiment."