Maria Vtorushina (they/them) are a curator, researcher, and writer. Their curatorial projects are based on analyzing concepts and practices of freedom, while their field of research is the history of queer art in societies that experienced Soviet colonialism. In their ongoing study, Maria aim to reveal and articulate the voices and practices of queer people, censored or repressed by totalitarian government regimes starting from the beginning of the twentieth century.
Holding an MA in Art Theory from the National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, Maria received post-graduate training at the Centre for Gender and Diversity, a research platform at Maastricht University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. In 2023, Maria were the editor-in-chief of Artslooker Magazine; from 2016 to 2021, they led Kyiv Art Week as the artistic director.
2024
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, assistant curator, Rave Scholarship fellow Ukrainian Decolonial Glossary, author
Lectures/Symposiums:
Ukrainian Decolonial Glossary launch and panel discussion, BAK - basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, speaker
The Power of Corporal: Oleksandr Rojtburd. Pinchuk Art Center, lecturer
2023
Recharge and Revolt: Queer Resistance and Rave Cuture in Ukraine, Melkweg, Amsterdam, curatorPerforming Kyiv, Schauspielhaus Zurich, Cabaret Voltaire, curator
Artslooker Magazine, editor in chief
Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS), researcher
Symposiums:
History of The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights in Ukraine through Art and Activism
Centre for Gender and Diversity, a research platform at Maastricht University, organiser, speaker
Queer Exhibition Histories Symposium. Presentation of the Queer Exhibition Histories book, edited by Bas Hendrix. KANAL — Centre Pompidou — Brussels, speaker
Residencies:
Unlearning Eastern Europe, Kaunas Artists’ House, participant
2022
Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS). Researcher.
From The Battlefield, SEA Foundation, De Pont Museum, LocHal, Tilburg, curator
Art of curating, lecture sycle, SKVOT.
Author, lecturer
Resindencies:
Atelier Nicosia, Festival Academy, participant.
SEA Foundation, Tilburg, curator-in-residence
2021
Kyiv Art Week, artistic director
Set Art Foundation, chief curator
Set Art Laboratory. Residency for artists and art experts, National Ivan Honchar Museum, Kyiv, curator
Сontact Zones, Brave! Factory Festival, Kyiv, curator
Art of curating, lecture sycle, SKVOT, author, lecturer
Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, Сulture For Changes program, expert
Museum of Kyiv. Consulting curator
2020
Kyiv Art Week, artistic director
Set Art Foundation, chief curator
Object of Desire, House of Clothes showcases, Kyiv, curator
Set Art Laboratory. Residency for artists and art experts, National Ivan Honchar Museum, Kyiv, curator
Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, Сulture For Changes program, expert
Earthmate Eco Festival, National Hryshko Botanical Garden, Kyiv, curator
2019
Kyiv Art Week, artistic director
Set Art Foundation, chief curator
Set Art Laboratory. Residency for artists and art experts, National Ivan Honchar Museum, Kyiv, curator
Freedom Street. Evgeniy Pavlov Retrospective. Set Art Foundation, Kyiv, curator
Errors: Slava Kryzhanovskiy. Set Art Foundation, Kyiv, curator
Maps Of Identity: Hate Speech. Anton Romanov. Set Art Foundation, Kyiv, curator
Can Freedom Be Simulated?, Lecture cycle, School of Cisual Communications, Kyiv, author and lecturer
2018
Kyiv Art Week, artistic director
To Find And Not Let Go. Ukrainan and Georgian Soviet Modernism. National Museum Kyiv Picture Gallery, Kyiv, curator
Resindencies:
Exodus, Perast/Kotor, Montenegro, participant
2017
Kyiv Art Week, artistic director
Brave! Factory Festival, Kyiv, curator
Theory Of Everything. Odesa Museum of Contemporary Art and National Museum Kyiv Picture Gallery’s Сhocolate House, Kyiv, curator
Sisters. Venice, Kokonton Gallery, curator
Resindencies:
Biruchiy, Ukraine, Participant
2016
Kyiv Art Week, artistic director
Burn, Babylon! Kyiv, curator
The Last Crimean Album, Elmira Shemsedinova, Bereznitsky Art Foundation, Kyiv, curator
Scissor Plot! Sasha Chichkan, Bereznitsky Art Foundation, Kyiv, curator