Born in 1991 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, she is a visual artist, performer, and mentor whose practice spans sculpture, video art, and curatorial projects. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Monumental Sculpture from the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts (2012) and later studied at the Rodchenko Moscow School of Photography and Multimedia (2015). Kleytman describes her artistic approach as hysterical realism, exploring the psychological and physical boundaries of the body alongside themes of black magic, abusive relationships, and self-aggrandizement as a form of depersonalization. Her work subjectively embodies contemporary political and social realities. In her sculptures, she transforms everyday objects into artificial, fantastical forms, working with materials such as fur, hair, feathers, metal, synthetic plastics, and silicone. She also incorporates artifacts from conflict zones—shattered glass, body bags, melted roofs—turning them into memory capsules that bear witness to acts of violence. She has created an AI persona, DIRTY WHITE, designed to absorb and neutralize accumulated hatred, rage, and anger. Together with Nikita Kadan and Bogdana Kosmina she created the curatorial group Wet Hole. They founded Dzherelo Art Pavilion, a 24/7 public art space in Kyiv. Her work has received significant recognition, including the Women in Visual Arts Prize (awarded by UN Women and the Ukrainian Institute) in 2021 for her impact on gender equality. She is also a two-time winner of the PinchukArtPrize, receiving the award for SUPER A in 2015 and ASK A MOM in 2018. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she relocated to Torino, Italy, where she currently lives and works.
Alina Kleytman, NIGHTMARE BELL, 2023, body bags, metal, fabric, plastic hair, 140 x 130 x 130 cm
Alina Kleytman, NIGHTMARE BELL, 2023, body bags, metal, fabric, plastic hair, 140 x 130 x 130 cm
Alina Kleytman, MISTER FISTER, 2023, trash bags, metal, 200 x 80 x 50 cm
Alina Kleytman, MISTER FISTER, 2023, trash bags, metal, 200 x 80 x 50 cm
Alina Kleytman, ANAL UMBRELLA, 2022, concrete, plastic, glass, 130 x 70 x 70 cm
Alina Kleytman, ANAL UMBRELLA, 2022, concrete, plastic, glass, 130 x 70 x 70 cm
Alina Kleytman, KILL ME PLEASE!, 2024, iron, velvet, recycled beaver fur, 130 x 70 cm
Alina Kleytman, KILL ME PLEASE!, 2024, iron, velvet, recycled beaver fur, 130 x 70 cm
Alina Kleytman, EPITAPH, 2023, body bags, prosthesis plastic, hair, 250 x 250 x 50 cm
Alina Kleytman, EPITAPH, 2023, body bags, prosthesis plastic, hair, 250 x 250 x 50 cm
Alina Kleytman, ENDLESS SHINE OF HUMAN VIOLENCE, 2022, lightbox with walkable glass, artifacts from occupied territories of Ukraine, 150 x 380 x 35 cm, site-specific sculpture placed in Cigognola, Lombardia, Italy
Alina Kleytman, ENDLESS SHINE OF HUMAN VIOLENCE, 2022, lightbox with walkable glass, artifacts from occupied territories of Ukraine, 150 x 380 x 35 cm, site-specific sculpture placed in Cigognola, Lombardia, Italy
Alina Kleytman, NECESSARY LUXURY OR LUXURY NECESSITY?, 2024, body bags, plastic, 160 x 100 x 100 cm
Alina Kleytman, NECESSARY LUXURY OR LUXURY NECESSITY?, 2024, body bags, plastic, 160 x 100 x 100 cm
Alina Kleytman, TESTAMENT: THIS MYSTERY WILL GO WITH ME TO THE GRAVE, 2022, plastic, metal, rust, 9 pieces, 75 x 60 cm
Alina Kleytman, TESTAMENT: THIS MYSTERY WILL GO WITH ME TO THE GRAVE, 2022, plastic, metal, rust, 9 pieces, 75 x 60 cm
Alina Kleytman, GROWING THE CROWN, 2023, glass, plexiglas, still, 30 x 30 x 70 cm
Alina Kleytman, GROWING THE CROWN, 2023, glass, plexiglas, still, 30 x 30 x 70 cm
Alina Kleytman, BIOINSTALLATION, 2022, plastic, metal, 15 x 15 x 26 cm and 25 x 10 x 10 cm
Alina Kleytman, BIOINSTALLATION, 2022, plastic, metal, 15 x 15 x 26 cm and 25 x 10 x 10 cm
Alina Kleytman, BIOINSTALLATION: PROSTHESIS, 2022-2023, plastic, metal, 120 x 15 cm
Alina Kleytman, BIOINSTALLATION: PROSTHESIS, 2022-2023, plastic, metal, 120 x 15 cm
Alina Kleytman, BIOINSTALLATION, 2024, plastic, metal, 40 x 45 x 25 cm
Alina Kleytman, BIOINSTALLATION, 2024, plastic, metal, 40 x 45 x 25 cm
Alina Kleytman, ENVIROMENT, 2023, metal, cement, plastic dryer, from BIOINSTALLATION series
Alina Kleytman, ENVIROMENT, 2023, metal, cement, plastic dryer, from BIOINSTALLATION series
Alina Kleytman, BEAUTY ATTRACTIZERS, 2022, thermoplastic polymers, cement, metal, plastic, accessories, from BIOINSTALLATION series
Alina Kleytman, BEAUTY ATTRACTIZERS, 2022, thermoplastic polymers, cement, metal, plastic, accessories, from BIOINSTALLATION series
Alina Kleytman, NECESSITY LUXURY OR LUXURY NECESSITY: ANILINGUS, 2022, concrete, metal, plastic, glass, 120 x 80 x 100 cm
Alina Kleytman, NECESSITY LUXURY OR LUXURY NECESSITY: ANILINGUS, 2022, concrete, metal, plastic, glass, 120 x 80 x 100 cm
Solo exhibitions:
2025
THE GREATEST SHOW, Gunia Nowik Gallery, Warsaw, Poland (upcoming)
A HORRIBLE END OR AN ENDLESS HORROR?, The Naked Room, Kyiv, Ukraine
2023
ENDLESS SHINE OF HUMAN VIOLENCE, Kogo Gallery, Tartu, Estonia
ROLLING REFUGEE HOME MUSEUM ON WHEELS, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan, Italy
2014
SUPER A, BROKEN SELFIE, Rodchenko Art School, Moscow, Russia
2011
SELF-TREATMENT, VovaTanya Gallery, Kharkiv, Ukraine
2010
GIRLS HAVE A BAD IDEA, Municipal Art Gallery, Kharkiv, Ukraine
TRANSFORMATION OF MENSTRUATION, Kharkiv Municipal Gallery, Ukraine
Selected group exhibitions:
2024
WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION 16: The Museum Between the Square and the Palace, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw, Poland
2024
Horror Patriae, steirischer herbst, Graz, Austria
Sense of Safety, YermilovCentre, Kharkiv, Ukraine
2023
Practitheorizing Counterinstitutions, documenta fifteen IMAGINART workshop, Kassel, Germany
2022
Letters from the Front, Castello di Rivoli, Turin, Italy
FIDMarseille, Marseille Festival of Documentary Film, France
Letters from Ukraine, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany
2020
Vertigo Time, Dora Ostrovsky Art Hub, Frankfurt, Germany
Strach, Arsenal Gallery, Białystok, Poland
2019
Crossing line, PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv, Ukraine
2018
Permanent Revolution, Ludwig Museum, Budapest, Hungary
Today I’m a Mermaid. Tomorrow I’ll Be a Unicorn, Riga Photography Biennial, Latvia
HA CITY, National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
ASK A MOM, Public Choice Prize, PinchukArtCentre Prize 2018, Kyiv, Ukraine
2017
…HURRAH! SCULPTURE!, The Manege Central Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia
REHEARSALS OF PLEASURE AND OTHER CONDITIONS, Regina Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Re-Consideration Versus, PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv, Ukraine
TEXTUS, CHOICE, Visual Culture Research Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
2015
…HURRAH! SCULPTURE!, WINZAVOD Contemporary Art Center, Moscow, Russia
MOTHERHOOD, Visual Culture Research Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
SUPER A, First Special Prize, PinchukArtCentre Prize, Kyiv, Ukraine
2014
Moscow.Barocco., Triumph Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2013
THE ONE MINUTES, Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow, Russia
SCULPTURE PRO SCULPTURE, YermilovCentre, Kharkiv, Ukraine
24 RU/NL, Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow, Russia
UKRAINIAN NEWS, Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw, Poland
2011
CAPTURE, PinchukArtCentre Prize, Kyiv, Ukraine
Curatorial projects:
2022
HOW U DARE?, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan, Italy
2021
EXTRAORDINARY QUEER-CABARET MAGIC INFANT, Iskra, Kyiv, Ukraine
2020-2022
DZHERELO, artist-run space (together with Nikita Kadan and Bogdana Kosmina), Kyiv, Ukraine
2013
ROOM TEMPERATURE project as part of UNRESPECTABLE by Boris Mikhailov, YermilovCentre, Kharkiv, Ukraine
COORDINATE SYSTEM, YermilovCentre, Kharkiv, Ukraine
2012
ZERO BUDGET, Apartment Exhibition Days, Kharkiv, Ukraine
2010
Y ROZU, gallery-laboratory, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Prizes:
Women in Visual Arts Prize, UN Women and the Ukrainian Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2021; PinchukArtPrize, PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2015 and 2018
Selected collections:
Kontakt. The Art Collection of Erste Group and ERSTE Foundation, Vienna, Austria; Letizia Moratti Collection, Milan, Italy; Arsenal Gallery, Bialystok, Poland
