
Katya (Ekaterina) Granova is an innovative contemporary artist whose work intimately engages with the complexities of memory, history, and identity. Born in the USSR just before its collapse, Granova’s formative years were marked by a cultural rupture that profoundly shaped her artistic voice. Her practice unearths the tension between the past and present, employing vintage photographs as catalysts for her paintings. This article delves into her artistic journey, educational background, accolades, and exhibitions.
Katya Granova’s artworks serve as a conduit for exploring her desire to penetrate the past while grappling with the inherent subjectivity of history. In her own words, “The wish to penetrate the past, to rebel against the irreversibility of time – this is what fuels my practice.” She employs vintage photographs as a means to launch her painting, believing that while these images provide a window into the past, they are “cut by the person behind the lens”, unveiling a biased and selective truth. Granova acknowledges that photographs capture fleeting moments but often fail to allow for a deeper engagement with the realities they depict.
Granova’s works are characterized by a vibrant interplay of abstraction and figuration. By altering, abstracting, and fictionalizing photographic images—often sourced from her family or found in flea markets—she invites viewers to experience her process of reclamation. She states, “In my practice, I alter, abstract, and fictionalize transferred photographic images… leaving an imprint of my own bodily movement in them through my gestured marks.” Her large-scale canvases are not mere representations of the past; rather, they serve as “portals” through which she infuses her presence into the historical narrative. Granova seeks to disrupt the linear spatial perspective typical of photographs, knowing that this ability to mix foreground and background into a “single pictorial mass of slimy paint” allows her to challenge viewers’ perceptions of historical truths.
Katya Granova’s educational path reflects her commitment to refining her artistic practice. She holds a Master of Arts in Painting from the Royal College of Arts (2018-2021), where she honed her skills and developed her conceptual framework. Additionally, she has participated in several certificate programs, including “New Methods in Contemporary Art” at the ICA Moscow and a fine arts certificate at the Paris College of Art. She also earned a master’s degree in Art and Space from Kingston University London and a specialist degree in Social Psychology from St. Petersburg State University.
Granova’s unique artistic contributions have been recognized by various prestigious awards and exhibitions. Some notable accolades include the 2023 Bath Open Art Prize as a winner, the 2023 Contemporary British Painting Prize as longlisted, the 2020 Signature Art Prize as a winner, and the 2024 Waverton Prize as longlisted. These awards highlight her growing impact in the contemporary art scene and affirm her exploration of historical narratives and emotional resonances through her work.
Granova’s exhibition history showcases a breadth of personal, collaborative, and group projects. Recent highlights include the 2023 Bath Open Art Prize Exhibition at 44AD artspace in Central Bath, UK, and Voices from a Suitcase at Shtager&Shch Gallery in London, UK. In 2022, she exhibited When My Babushka Joined the Reich at ArtWorks Project Space and Fractures of the Lens (with Simon Hodgkinson) at Burgh House in London. Her exhibitions often evoke poignant narratives, inviting audiences to reflect on their relationships with personal and collective histories.
In addition to her individual practice, Granova is a co-founder of the APXIV Art Collective, contributing to multiple exhibitions that challenge conventional art practices and dialogues. The collective fosters a collaborative environment for artists to explore and exhibit innovative works.
Looking ahead, Granova will participate in the LIA residency in Leipzig, Germany, from April to June 2024, where she aims to further develop her practice and engage with new artistic perspectives.
Katya Granova’s art is a profound exploration of how we interact with the past—both through personal memory and collective history. By reinterpreting vintage photographs, she invites us to reconsider our understanding of time and narrative. Her practice is a testament to the power of painting as a medium for emotional expression and historical inquiry. Through her work, Granova not only attempts to reclaim her past but also challenges us to reflect on our own relationships with history and memory, making her an essential voice in contemporary art today.
For more information, follow her on Instagram @katyagranova or visit her website at www.grart.net. You can also reach her via email at gra.nova.vita@gmail.com.
Photo credits: The photographs are from the artist’s archive.
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