Kostya Benkovich (b. 1981)

Education: Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design.

An international artist based in Finland, whose works have been acquired by museums and major private collections worldwide. He has been included in the list of the best contemporary Russian artists (ARTEEX), as well as in the 49ART rating for 2021/2022 in the "Outstanding Contemporary Russian Artists Under 50" category.

In 2021, The Art Newspaper named him among the prominent artists of his time and generation. His works have been exhibited in leading museums and art venues around the world, including the Saatchi Gallery in London, the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, and the Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow, among others.

His street art and performances have gone viral, impacting millions and allowing him to take a critical stance on existing contradictions and social injustices in the world, which he expresses through social media. His work The Suitcase, dedicated to the issues faced by refugees and first exhibited at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, was supported by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the UK. In 2024, it was officially accepted into Edinburgh's fine art collection, the largest in Scotland.



  Agency:  

  Bird & Carrot prodactions, London, UK

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Artist Statement 

In my art I follow my gut instincts. I am extremely sensitive to injustice and the pain of others. My intent is to translate current social issues, such as greed for control and power, persecution, pain, tragedy, resilience and struggle, into steel rebar sculptures that tell a story. What motivates me is the challenge of converting the impressions and ideas that deeply touch me into artworks. I opt at giving the viewer an unexpected new angle on the current situation, both local and global.

My practice is built around the belief that art can transform the society from within and bring about a major shift in people’s awareness. We know of many cases when a loner artist managed to courageously resist the oppressive state and outlive it. Art is more powerful than one might think, art can make a change.

Although my language consists of the symbols of pop-culture, let it not mislead you: naivete of the artist is his most powerful weapon.  I change the context and completely alter the meaning of images I might occasionally refer to in tribute to other artists. I am inspired by works of Jasper Johns, Neo-Dadaists and activists.  The activist artist, whose insightful and uncompromising works I admire the most, is Ai Weiwei.

My steel sculptures are a special lens through which I look at the world. Steel rebar is a visible and tangible absence of freedom. I wish to redirect the viewer’s focus towards the cases of social and political injustice, the disbalance of power.  I want them to feel the way I feel and act upon it.