Monika Gabriela Dorniak is a German-Polish artist and researcher with an interdisciplinary background in fine arts, choreography, psychology, and design. She often merges media—specifically performance, (textile) sculpture, and multimedia. In her practice-based research, Dorniak explores the structures of the Self through a multifaceted analysis of body, mind, and environment, considering the regressive history of nature's domination and social power structures. Her auto-ethnographic research on intergenerational trauma, migration, and belonging is advanced through ongoing collaborations with other-than-human entities, scientists and communities as part of socially engaged commissions, including Counterpoints Arts in London (2021–2022).

Dorniak has presented her works at international institutions such as Kesselhaus at Kindl Berlin (48 Stunden Neukölln, 2024), Nationalgalerie Vilnius (2023), Drugo Mare in Rijeka (2022), Uferstudios Berlin (2021), Kommunale Galerie Bärenzwinger in Berlin (2019), Tate Exchange at Tate Modern London (2017 & 2018), Arts Catalyst in London (2016), and Foreign Affairs Festival at Berliner Festspiele (2014). She has also been a guest lecturer at SOAS University of London (2022), Garage Museum in Moscow (2019), Al-Quds Bard College in Palestine (2018), and Chelsea College in London (2017).

Dorniak holds a Master's Degree in Art and Science (Department of Fine Art) from Central Saint Martins in London (2017). Since 2024, she has been a Ph.D. candidate in the art- and science-based Bi-National Ph.D. programme between HfK Bremen and HDK Valand in Gothenburg under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mona Schieren and Prof. Dr. Mick Wilson.



Photograph by Dale Grant, 2023




To request CV & Portfolio, arrange a studio visit online / in Berlin, or further queries, get in contact. 



EDUCATION

since 2024     PhD candidate between HfK Bremen and HDK Valand Gothenburg
2015-2017      MA Art and Science / Central Saint Martins / UAL / London / UK
2014-2015      BA Dance/Choreography / HZT / University of Arts Berlin / Germany
2011-2013       BA Psychology / Universität Trier / Germany
2008-2010     BA Fashion Design / University of Westminster / London / UK


SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025     their mimicry sounds like a reflection, Stroboskop, Warsaw, PL
2023     the (nonmetaphoric) use of the term participation, InTheCloset, Vilnius, LI 
2023     the ease with which [a] may be distorted under the action of [b], Hošek Contemporary, Berlin, DE         
2020     If Homunkulus Had A House, ROSALUX, Berlin, DE
2011      Human Anatomy Is Adorning Itself, Das Weekend, Berlin, DE


GROUP EXHIBITIONS  – selected list

2025   Tracing Echoes, Heinrich-Schulz-Bibliothek, Berlin, DE
2024   48 Hours Neukölln, KINDL, Berlin, DE
2024    As the Witches do, Center for Literature, Burg Hülshoff, Münster, DE
2023    CollActive Matters, CLB Galerie, Berlin, DE
2023    WARSAW>KIN<BERLIN, Galeria Promocyjna, Warszawa, PL
2023    WeWater, Symbiotic Lab, Berlin, DE 
2023    WARSAW>KIN<BERLIN, Milchhof Pavillion, Berlin, DE
2022    Künstlerische Tatsachen, TRAFO, Jena, DE
2022    Mapping The Cartographic, Drugo Mare, Rijeka, HR
2022    Critical Practice Studio, Haus der Statistik, Berlin, DE
2021    Pop Up Gallery, Art Apart, NAILS Projectroom, Düsseldorf, DE
2021    Rituale der Gegenwart, curated by SALVE, Künstlerhaus Sootbörn, Hamburg, DE
2021    Hold Hands, Kunstverein Leipzig, Leipzig, DE
2021    Black Beemer > White Boomer, City Gallery Pardubice, Prague, CZ
2021     Instability and Precariousness, Millepiani, Rome, IT
2020    Visard, Salve Berlin, Berlin, DE
2020     still connected, Weserhalle, Berlin, DE
2020    Openings Not Openings, Bärenzwinger, Berlin, DE
2019    The Screen Is Not The Limit, curated by Entkunstung, online
2019    dig:it, Museum of Arts, Arad, RO
2018    Vivid Unknown, ROSALUX, Berlin, DE
2018    Expedition IV, curated by Johanna Silbermann, Salve Berlin, Berlin, DE
2017    10 Jahre, Kunstverein Neukölln, Berlin, DE
2017   This is an Art School, curated by Alex Schady, Tate Exchange, London, UK
2016    Postgraduates Auction with Sotheby’s, Lethaby Gallery, London, UK
2016    9 Evenings Series, Arts Catalyst, London, UK
2015    Remember Nature curated by Gustav Metzger, Central Saint Martins, London, UK
2012    Wir bauen eine neue Gedankenskulptur, Alte Post, Trier, DE
2011    Koordinaten des Körpers, Kunstraum t27, Berlin, DE
2011    Exposició Síntesi, Festival Tallerts Oberts, Barcelona, ES


PERFORMANCES & WORKSHOPS – selected list

2024    What could possibly go right?, Toni Areal, Zürich, CH
2023    half orphan, half witch, Monster Believers Reloaded, Berlin, DE
2022    Your Body Is A Water Vessel, TRAFO, Jena, DE
2022    Metamorphosis, Entkunstung x  Jakob Kukula Publication, Art Biesenthal, DE
2021    Amplification Of Fluctuations, Uferstudios, Berlin, DE
2019     My Fiction and You, Bärenzwinger, Berlin, DE
2018     Studio Complex, Curator: Alex Schady, Tate Exchange, Tate Modern, London, UK
2018    Collective Synchronisation, Anti-University Festival, Arts Catalyst, London, UK
2016     Why simple, when you can make it complex, Performance Studio, London, UK
2015     Anthropocentric Choreography, Foreign Affairs, Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Berlin, DE
2016     Acts Re: Acts, Wimbledon Arts Centre, London, UK
2014     100 Grad Festival, Sophiensaele, Berlin, DE
2013     CTM Hacklab Presentations, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, DE


LECTURING, CURATING, MODERATING & TEACHING

since 2023     Mentor, University of the Arts, London, UK  (ongoing)
2025    Seminar, Lygia Clark and the Politics of Memory, HfK Bremen, DE
2024    Guest Tutor, Seminar ART >>>>=×=÷+/–=˜> THERAPY, HfK Bremen, DE
2024    Lecturer, Why Remember?, Peace & Conflict Culture, Sarajevo, BIH
2023     Curator, Passing on Resilience, National Gallery Vilnius, LI
2023     10-month research programme, School of Commons, Zurich, CH
2023     Lecturer, CollActive Matters, Lobe Bau, Berlin, DE 
2023     Guest tutor, Berridge Programs, FR
2022     Moderator, Reactionary Art, Berlin Art Week, Uferhallen, Berlin, DE
2022     Moderator, Footnotes, School of Commons, Zurich University, Zurich, CH
2022     Moderator, Warding Off, Radio Show, Refuge Worldwide
2022     Guest Tutor, SARS London, Online
2021     Moderator, Uprootedness & Hybridity, Seminar Series, Counterpoints Arts, UK
2019     Lecturer, Experiencing the Museum, Garage Museum, Moscow, RU
2018     Lecturer, Diversity, Arts and Culture, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, DE
2018     Guest Tutor, Urban Studies & Spatial Practices, Al-Quds Bard College, PS
2017     Guest Tutor, BA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL, UK
2015     Lecturer, Diversity, Arts and Culture, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, DE


STIPENDS, PRIZES & RESIDENCIES

2025    Dezentrale Kulturarbeit, Project Stipend, Bezirksamt Charlottenburg, Berlin, DE
2024    Stadt findet Kunst, Project Stipend, Bezirksamt Charlottenburg, Berlin, DE
2023     Stipend, Take Heart, Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
2023     Prize, Hošek Contemporary Prize, Berlin, DE
2022     Residency, Künstlerische Tatsachen, TRAFO, Jena, DE
2022     Sonderförderung, Neustart Kultur, Kunstfonds Bonn
2022     Exhibition and travel fund, Mapping The Cartographic, Institut f. Auslandsbeziehungen
2021     Residency, Hold Hands, Online
2021     Stipend, Take Action, Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
2020     Stipend, Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Kultur, Berlin, DE


BIBLIOGRAPHY

2025     Online, MOST Magazine, Interview by Russo, Silvia. Seduta Artistica.
2023     Online, Coeur & Art, Interview by Lorena Mateeva
2022     Issue 13, JANE, Interview by Nina Mdivani
2022     Metamorphosis, Symbiotic Lab & Entkunstung
2020     Issue 1, Out Of Stock Edith Lazar and Schloss Solitude
2017     Issue 4, Terra Firma Magazine
2016     Online, Metal Magazine, Interview by Anastasia Sliusarenko
2011     Issue 5, Der Greif


Selected interviews
Most Magazine (2025) w/ Silvia Russo
Coeur & Art (2023) w/ Lorena Mateeva
Baserange (2021) w/ Umuco Podcast
The Ekru Project (2019) w/ Veronica Horwell
Metal Magazine (2017)














All images and texts © 2023  Studio Monika Dorniak 
All rights reserved