About
Born 1990 in Munich, Germany
Living and working between Munich and Paris
Contact
Email sophia.mainka@gmail.com
Instagram @sophiamainka
Education
2018–2020
Study of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich
with Alexandra Bircken (diploma, master student)
2014–2020
Participation in the interdisciplinary study program cx at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Studio visits a.o. with melanie bonajo, Manfred Pernice, Mariechen von Danz, Justin Liebermann, Nora Schulz
2012–2018
Studies of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich
with Stephan Huber (master student)
2011–2012
studies of philosophy and german literature at the LMU Munich
Teaching
2023-
Artistic collaborator of Raphaela Vogel at Academy of Fine Arts Munich
2022–2023
Artistic collaborator of Alexandra Bircken at Academy of Fine Arts Munich
Solo and duo exhibitions
2024
Notes on Roommates (a dog, a parrot, a whale and a canal) // GiG Munich, Munich, curated by Magdalena Wisniowska
Throw of the dice // Galerie Sperling, Munich, Duo with Lukas Hoffmann, curated by Magdalena Wisniowska
2023
Artissima // Solo presentation with Galerie Von & Von, Present Future Section, Torino, IT
2022
Holidays Crash // La garaage, Kunstverein, Ebersberg
2021
SHTF, Testspiel // Rosa Stern Space, Munich
2019
Himmelstreppe 5 // Kunst 66, Munich
Zweites Paradies // Künstlerhaus Lauenburg, Lauenburg/Elbe
2018
Hier gibt es viele, die dich weinen // Akademiegalerie München, Munich
Cure for Wellness // Kösk, Munich
2017
Idenititätslos, Tierisch, Emotionsgeladen with Cäcilia Heinze // Kösk, Munich
2016
Traumfalte // step across gallery, Munich
2015
Entbindungen // mundarte Kulturhaus, Munich
Group exhibitions
2024
Meet me here tomorrow (again) // All Street Gallery, New York City, USA
La logique des lieux // La Chauffrie, Romainville, FR
Nord-Est // Poush, Aubervilliers, FR
From animal to mineral // Lothringer Halle 13, Munich
Klohäuschen Biennale // Munich
2023
Open Studios // Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, FR
Meine drei lyrischen Ichs // Kunstverein, Munich
Open Studios // Armira Studios, Munich
Open Studios // Baumstraße, Munich
Jahresgaben // Kunstverein, Munich
2022
Newcomer II // Galerie Cubeplus, Kiel
Behind a rainbow // Stadtgalerie Lauenburg, Lauenburg
We can be heros // Galerie Wolfgang Jahn, Munich
Trophees // Armira, Munich
Dear future, what i can do for you? // Citè international des Arts, Paris
NCAKSYR // Kunstpavillon, Munich
Uncanny Village // Lost Weekend, Munich
Jahresgaben // Kunstverein, Munich
VuK // Verein urbaner Kunst, Munich
2021
Debutants // Haus der Kunst, Munich
I beg your Pardon?, Debütant*innen // Galerie der Künstler, Munich
High End. Aktuelle Positionen zeitgenössischer Bildhauerei // Museum Villa Rot, Burgrieden
2020
Jahresgaben // Kunstverein, Munich
Positions // Paper Positions Galerie Von & Von, Tempelhof, Berlin
Tacker // Galerie der Künstler, BBK, Munich
Normalität bewahren // rosa stern space, Munich,
Jewerelly, no-Jewerelly // Empfangshalle, Munich
Art Karlsruhe // Galerie VON & VON, Karlsruhe
2019
Obejct!Model!Pattern! // Empfangshalle, Munich
Playground // Galerie VON&VON, Nuremberg
Babyparty // Z-Common Ground, Munich
some stories // Vorwerk 21, Hamburg
Eine Mauer aus fließend Wasser // Kunstblock BALVE, Munich
2018
Cannibals with feelings // Kunstarkaden, Munich
Learning to walk // Kunstverein, Munich
2017
Neumayer III // Neumayer III, Ekström Ice Shelf
Autistische Fragmente // Gasteig, Jazzfest, Munich
Zimmer frei // Hotel Mariandl, Munich
Freizeit- und Kneipensport // Weltraumgalerie, Munich
Fade // Domagkateliers, Munich
Around Quarzarzate // KribisKrabis Festival, Olang
2016
Two Empties // Streitfeld, Munich
One Month // Temporary Gallery, Cologne
Temple // Monticule, Domaine de Gayfie
Junge Kunst // Museum for contemporary art, Marktoberdorf
Unboxing Pandora // Kunstpavillon, Munich
Awards, grants, residencies
2024
Residency, Oberpfälzerkünstlerhaus Schwandorf, Libourn, FR
2023
Residency Fondation Fiminco, FR (2023-2024)
Studio Grant, City of Munich (2023-2026)
Residency Cité internationale des Arts Paris, Follow-up Residency, FR
Prize (Nomination), Bayerischer Kunstförderpreis
2022
Residency Cité internationale des Arts Paris, Bay. Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, FR
Residency Kunstverein Ebersberg
2021
Scholarship Kickstarter, Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
Scholarship Neustart Kultur, Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
Scholarship Neue Kunst, neue Wege, Bayern Innovativ
Catalog funding, Bay. Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst
Catalog funding, LFA-Förderbank
Project funding, Erwin und Gisela von Steiner Stiftung
Studio grant, ARMIRA, Europa Platz (2021-2022)
Studio grant, Baumstraße Munich (2021-2027)
2020
Debut award, Galerie der Künstler*innen München und Oberbayern
Debut award, Erwin und Gisela von Steiner Stiftung
Studio grant, Landeshauptstadt München (2020-2023)
2019
Residency, Künstlerhaus Lauenburg (Elbe)
Prize, Playground Art Prize, Galerie VON & VON
2018
Leonard und Ida Wolf Memorial Prize, City of Munich
Publications
2024
La logique des lieux
Zine for group exhibition, published by Fondation Fiminco
Edition of 1500.
2022
Newcomer, Behind a rainbow
catalog for group exhibition, published by Künstlerhaus Lauenburg
Edition of 500.
2021
BIG HOUSE SILVER STAR
Monograph and artist book, published by Galerie der Künstler*innen München. Edition of 320.
2020
Zweites Paradies
Catalog for solo exhibition, published by Künstlerhaus Lauenburg. Edition of 250.
Throwback: Drawing restrict. Growing Exhibition.
Catalog for group exhibition, published by Rosa Stern @ Living Art. Edition of 200.
2019
Nachrichten im Künstlerinnenpräkariat
Collaboration with Sophie Schmidt, published by Online Magazin Wepsert.
Some Stories
Zine accompaning exhibition, self-published. Edition of 200.
Lectures, performances, screenings
2024
UPCOMING we used to be wild, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris, FR
we used to be wild, Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, FR
2023
Meine drei Lyrischen Ichs, Lecture at Kunstverein Munich with Sophie Schmidt
2022
Sunday`s Screening, Screening of the movie „Heim und Herd“ at Cité internationale des Arts, Paris
2021
Retrospect! Screening of the movie „Muschis und Englischer Rasen“ at Stadtgalerie Lauenburg/Elbe
2020
Kooperationen, Lecture at Import Export, Munich, with Sophie Schmidt
Meine Zunge war der schönste Vorhang, Lecture at Fructa, Munich, with Sophie Schmidt
I feel safe, Performance at Empfangshalle, Munich, with Domino Pyttel
2019
fade, Performance and Lecture at Halle 50, Domagk, Munich, with Adrian Sölch
Kooperationen, Performance and Lecture at Import Export, with Adrian Sölch
Großer Tag der jungen Müncher Literatur, Lecture at Einstein, Munich, with Adrian Sölch