Ekaterina Panikanova (St.Petersburg, 1975) lives and works in Rome.
Ekaterina Panikanova creates densely layered paintings across large spreads of old books and other documents, resulting in artwork that blurs the lines between painting, installation and collage. Born in St. Petersburg in 1975 Panikanova graduated at the top of her class from the Academy of Fine Arts and was subsequently given a studio to work from for five years. explores the theme of childhood memories, inviting us to discover ourselves by reading behind the lines of our subconscious. attempts to visually rewrite the innermost stories of the human psyche by directly intervening on the pages of open books. Arranging old books, notebooks and prints from different eras into an irregular grid, Panikanova puts together an unconventional oversized canvas of interrupted surfaces. Laid out in groups, the books resemble pieces of a puzzle that appear to be interchangeable yet heavily reliant on one another, very much like the experiences and memories that collectively piece together a lifetime. The outcome is a series of spectacular three-dimensional artworks that shy away from the conventional format of painting, flirting instead, with the set-up of an installation.
Among her solo shows: solo presentation at Cosmoscow art fair with z2o Sara Zanin Gallery (2019);Crossing my garden curated by M. Dacci, z2o Sara Zanin Gallery, Rome, Italy (2019); Crepuscoli, z2o Sara Zanin Gallery, Rome (2014); Torta di ciliegie nere, curated by I.Biolchini, MIC (Museo Internazionale della Ceramica), Faenza (2014); Un, due, tre, fuoco z2o Sara Zanin Gallery, Rome (2013).
Among her recent group shows: La Biblioteca del Mondo, Fondazione Memmo, Rome (2023); Isorropia Home Gallery, Milano (2017); Metamorphoses, Schloss Pörnbach, Germania (2016); Biennale del Disegno, Rimini (2016); Uomo e Spiritualità, group exhibition, Pieve di Sant'Eusebio, Gambolò, Milano (2015); Safari Moon, Visionnaire Design Gallery, Milano (2015); Almost Human, curated by D. Tolema, Converge Gallery, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA (2014); IGNITE Pop up exhibition, Pajama, Factory, Williamsport, USA (2014); YELL-O, C24 gallery, New York, USA (2014); Edra, curated by C. Stolfi, Russian Center in Rome, Rome (2014). She is among the finalists at the 2020 Faenza Award by Mic Museum.