Gabriela Zigova (b.1989) graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (SVK) in 2015, in the Open Studio of Ilona Nemeth. She has been based in London, UK, since 2016.
Gabriela Zigova’s work focuses on exploring and addressing social situations, cultural contexts and political events. Her modes of expression are photography, performance, site-specific and interactive installations which aim to confuse and manipulate the viewers’ perceptions.
For Gabriela, acquiring technical expertise in the medium of photography is merely a starting point. To her, photography is particular in its relationship to reality; it provides a trace, a testimony. This can be the foundation on which the author builds. In many of her works, photography provides the basis for a work which she develops into the form of installation or performance.
Zigova’s practice seeks to use the physical body as a medium to convey particular experiences. The frequent presence of physicality in her work is used to embody cultural and socio-political critique and to reflect on existential concerns.
When creating her works, Zigová draws directly from her personal experience and analyses the circumstances behind them, the implications that result and the paradigms they represent. This self-analysis functions as its own sociological self-portrait.
Currently is based in London (UK) where she joined The Steamship Collective in 2018. In 2019 she has been nominated for prestigious Oskár Čepan Award, where she won visitors’ choice.
AWARDS, ARTIST RESIDENCES & FESTIVALS
2024 Generations Together, Trenčín – European City of Culture 2026, Slovakia
2020 Artist In Residency, backsteinboot, Berlin Germany
2019 Oskár Čepan Award: Nominee, Winner of Visitors’ Choice. Exhibition: Ecology of Desire, East Slovak Gallery, Košice Slovakia
2019 5th Festival of Naked Forms, Karlin Studios, Prague Czechia
2018 Transart Communication, Karlin Studios, Prague Czechia & Manga Centre, Krakow Poland
2018 Turmoil Excess_ Vorspiel, Transmediale & CTM, Modular+, Berlin Germany
2017 Cable Street Studios Arts Festival, London UK
2016 Rencontre Internationale d’Art Performance / RIAP, Quebec City Quebec
2016 V!VA Art For Action, Montreal Quebec
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Synthetic Souls, Staromestská galéria Zichy, Bratislava, Slovakia
2023 I Have Seen This Before, formaat, Trenčín, Slovakia
2022 The World Collapsed While We Were Dancing, backsteinboot, Berlin Germany
2020 The New Times (Nové časy / Nový čas), Bohéma Gallery, Bratislava Slovakia
2019 The Best Seat Is Taken, A4 – zero space, Bratislava Slovakia
2018 CHe(a)r, Sumec Gallery, Bratislava Slovakia
2018 Dark But Happy Place, Deptford Does Art, London UK
2018 C-HOLE, Photoport Gallery, Bratislava Slovakia
2017 Ilona Németh / Gabriela Zigová, Gallery of Milan Alexander Bazovský, Trenčín Slovakia
2017 You Look Like I Could Use Another Drink, FUGA, Bratislava Slovakia
2015 2009 – 20??, Fresh Men’s Gallery, Bratislava Slovakia
2015 *established model* Magdaléna Gallery 4D, Bratislava Slovakia
2015 [no censorship] A4 – zero space, Bratislava Slovakia
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024-25 It’s all about Chairs, Liptovská Gallery, Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia
2024 Persona Incognita, OFF Festival, Bratislava, Slovakia
2024 Slovakian Venice, Artrooms Moravany, Moravany n/V, Slovakia
2024 Overflowing, Pisztory Palace, Bratislava, Slovakia
2023 Winter Open Studios, arebyte, London, UK
2023 Sunny Daze, Hanway, London, UK
2022-23 While We Were Dancing, Gallery of Jozef Kolár, Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
2022 All Hands on Deck, The Steamship PS, London, UK
2022 Riposte.London, Electrowerkz, London, UK
2021 All The Time In The World, The Steamship PS, London UK
2020 Attack / Decay / Sustain / Release, Nova Cvernovka, Bratislava Slovakia
2020 Timeless Thames, The Steamship PS, London UK
2019 A Room Of One’s Own, Deptford Cinema, London UK
2019 Invisible City, The Steamship PS, London UK
2018 Social Lube, The Workshop Vauxhall, London UK
2018 G – Atlas, 4D Gallery, Galanta Slovakia
2016 Who Wants To Belong In My Country?, Article Gallery, Birmingham UK
2016 0 or 1, The Hive, London UK
2016 Maso Objekt, 4D Gallery, Galanta Slovakia
2015 Private Nationalism, Open Gallery, Bratislava Slovakia
2014 Czechoslovakia, Bunker Nitra Gallery, Nitra Slovakia
2014 Propaganda, Pisztory Palace, Bratislava Slovakia