Masha Shubina

"Using my own face in my works is not a manifestation of self-admiration. It is the most accessible and honest material for exploring the boundaries of the human 'Self' in a world where we are constantly forced to play roles. My objective 'Self' is merely a mask through which I observe society."

In “Real Life,” Masha Shubina returns to the theme of simplicity and everyday life as a profound source of human experience. A static still life with dishes and an onion becomes a symbol of home, memory, and silence. The artist uses a warm color palette, creating an effect of nostalgia and calm. The work reminds us that real life is not made up of spectacles, but of small things — quiet moments where light falls on the ordinary, revealing its inner beauty.

Masha Shubina is a prominent figure in contemporary Ukrainian art, whose work focuses on the intellectual exploration of identity. Her method centers on the conceptual use of her own image, transforming her body into a tool for analyzing narcissism, gender roles, and mass culture. Working across hyperrealistic painting, installation, and video art, Shubina blurs the boundaries between the private and public spheres. Her projects anticipated the global trend of selfie culture, turning self-portraiture into a critical reflection on the "society of the spectacle." Winning the PinchukArtCentre Special Prize and holding a solo exhibition at NAMU established her as a leader of a generation that merges provocation with flawless aesthetics. Shubina’s art is a subtle game with the viewer, where decorative perfection hides sharp irony and deep analysis of modern self-perception.

Represented by

Mironova Gallery

Credentials

Awards

2012 Ranked among the "Top 10 Most Promising Artists of Ukraine" according to Forbes.
2011 Nominee of the National Contemporary Art Prize for young artists, Kyiv.
2009 Winner of the Special Award for outstanding achievements in contemporary art, Kyiv.
2007 Award for "Best Art Project" at the Art-Kyiv International Festival, Kyiv.
2006 Laureate of the "Cult-Project" art festival, Kyiv.
2003 Recipient of the Gaude Polonia scholarship (Ministry of Culture of Poland), residency in Krakow.

Solo exhibitions

2025 "Fragments of Presence", Art Ukraine Gallery, Kyiv / Berlin.
2024 "LOST-and-FOUND: Reload", Sky Art Foundation, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2023 "Silent Dialogue", residency and solo presentation, Berlin, Germany.
2021 "LOST AND FOUND", Sky Art Foundation, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2017 "SHOW OFF", National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU), Kyiv.
2014 "AR_TIST", Triptych ART Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2012 "MY RELIGION", Bereznitsky Project Systems, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2011 "H_OTEL", Collection Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2010 "SELF-PORTRAIT", Collection Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2008 "AGONY AND ECSTASY", Kyiv.Fine Art Gallery, Kyiv.
2007 "F_ACE", Kyiv.Fine Art Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2006 "E_GO", L-Art Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2004 "D_REAMS", Collection Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2003 "I_DENTITY", Bunkier Sztuki Gallery, Krakow, Poland (Gaude Polonia).

Group exhibitions

2024 "Women in the Arts", international exhibition project, Paris — Berlin.
2022 "The Captured House", European tour (Berlin, Venice, Rome, Amsterdam).
2019 "Media Addiction. Reincarnation", Ukrainian House, Kyiv.
2017 "Kyiv Art Week", international art festival, Kyiv.
2015 "Enfant Terrible", National Center "Ukrainian House", Kyiv.
2014 "I Am a Drop in the Ocean", Künstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria.
2012 "Arsenale 2012", First Kyiv International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv.
2011 "Independent", Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv.
2011 PinchukArtCentre Prize nominees exhibition, PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv.
2010 "If. Ukrainian Art Today", PERMM Museum of Contemporary Art, Perm.
2009 PinchukArtCentre Prize nominees exhibition, PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv.
2008 "Fresh Blood", Diehl + Gallery One, Moscow.
2007 "Generations UsA", PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv.
2005 "Ukrainian Neo-Baroque", National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU), Kyiv.

Media coverage

International fairs

2024 International project "Women in the Arts", Paris, France — Berlin, Germany.
2022 International exhibition tour "The Captured House", Berlin (Germany), Venice (Italy), Rome (Italy), Amsterdam (Netherlands).
2014 International exhibition "I Am a Drop in the Ocean", Künstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria.
2012 International contemporary art fair "Art Basel", Basel, Switzerland.
2011 Art fair "Art Miami", Miami, USA.
2010 Exhibition "If. Ukrainian Art Today", PERMM Museum, Perm (as part of international exchange).
2008 Art fair "Scope Art Show", Basel, Switzerland / Miami, USA.
2007 International exhibition "Generations UsA", joint project featuring artists from the USA and Ukraine.
2003 Solo project within the "Gaude Polonia" residency, Bunkier Sztuki Gallery, Krakow, Poland.

Personal

2017 Museum Status: Holding the "SHOW OFF" solo project at the National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU, 2017), which served as a hallmark of top-tier institutional recognition and the integration of a contemporary artist into the classical museum canon.
2009 Conceptual Leadership: Winning the Special Prize of PinchukArtCentre (2009), which established her as a leader of the "new wave" of Ukrainian artists who radically transformed the landscape of contemporary visual art.
Identity Research: Developing a unique visual language of the "social self-portrait" that conceptually anticipated the global trends of selfie culture and digital narcissism long before the era of social media dominance.
Market Success: Successful presentation of works at global auctions (notably Phillips de Pury) and regular participation in top-tier art fairs such as Art Basel and Art Miami, confirming the high liquidity and investment appeal of her art.
Media Influence: Building a highly recognizable personal brand that successfully blends professional art with the current socio-cultural context, making her one of the most influential women in the modern Ukrainian art scene.