Born in Sarajevo (1990)
Works and lives in Utrecht
Represented bij Lumen Travo gallery in Amsterdam

Download portfolio (with text and cv)

UPCOMING   
                                                   
Solo exhibition at Lumen Travo gallery     (fall 2024)
Residency at EKWC                              (winter 2024)
Duo exhibition at Concordia                            (2025)
Commisioned artwork at Thijssehuis              (2025)

If you like to be notified of upcoming exhibitions feel free to send me an email.

Torn cardboard with a layer of rubber, foam rubber covered in plaster. Matea Bakula creates unexpected combinations in her work. Often, she works with geometric shapes, from which she then breaks away: a column is folded in half, a circle is sagged. She engages with the properties of the material and endeavors to mold them to her will. Each piece is a dialogue between the needs of the material and those of the artist.

Everyday, and sometimes even unappealing, materials seem to be her preference. Cardboard, pu foam, rubber, used paper, or protective film for plexiglass, one wouldn't expect beauty from them, but in Matea Bakula's work, they acquire it. Her inspiration draws from both mundane issues and larger systems. It ranges from something small like replacing a roll of toilet paper to observing the behavior of fungi and the transformation of a city.

Bakula challenges her material, manipulates it, explores all facets, and makes them a defining part of her work. In her hands, pu foam takes on a luxurious appearance and becomes as smooth as marble. Pushing the boundaries of the materials creates an interesting tension in the work. She also seeks this tension in the relationship between the work and the viewer; in the size and placement. Hanging  a large and seemingly heavy sculpture just out of reach for example, she ponders the effect of that position.

Matea Bakula's work is soft yet powerful. Marble-like columns lie folded against the wall or lean wearily against it, like bored visitors at an exhibition. There's emotion within. Or gray square pillars that are cinched and folded, where the skin has burst open revealing a soft, bright blue interior. Like a candy bar with a soft filling—or like glowing lava beneath a hard crust. In short, these are not neutral objects. More lies hidden beneath the surface.

│E D U C A T I O N│

   2009 - 2013                    HKU (University of the Arts, Utrechts (BFA), NL



│E X H I B I T I O N S│

   SOLO
   2024                                 Buitenplaats Doornburgh, Maarssen, NL (cancelled due to the venue closing)
   2018                                 Between grace and fury, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, Diepenheim, NL
   2017                                 The chemistry between doctor Frank and me, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam, NL
   2014                                 Matea Bakula, GAVU, Cheb, CZ

   DUO
   2023                                 Between object and body - with Cecilia Rebergen -, Studio Seine, Rotterdam, NL
                                             Family Jewels - with Robin Meyer -, Horizonverticaal, Haarlem, NL
                                             A WHEEL A ROPE A STONE A WING - with Ruta Butkute -, Park, Tilburg, NL
   2020                                 One eye and two takes on vulnerability - with Milena Naef - , Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam, NL

   COMMISIONS
   2020                                 A letter from a free man, Het Utrechts Archief, Utrecht, NL    

   GROUP
   2024                                 Group exhibition curated by Hans den Hartog Jager, Buitenplaats Doornburgh, Maarssen, NL (cancelled due to the venue closing)
                                             Art Rotterdam, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam, NL
   2023                                 Lustwarande, Tilburg, NL
                                             Art Island, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, NL
   2022                                 Utrecht Downunder, Utrecht, NL
   2021                                 Four Positions, De Apotheek, Amsterdam, NL
                                             Art Rotterdam, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam, NL
   2022                                 Collector's item, Centraal Museum, Utrecht, NL
                                             Koop dit of dit of dit, Kunskoop exhibition by Mondrian Fund, Capital-C, Amsterdam, NL
   2019                                 Scenarios of desire II, Emergent, Veurne, BE
                                             Jonge beelden, Beelden in Leiden, Leiden, NL
                                             The reflections on nature, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam, NL
                                             Art Rotterdam, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam, NL
   2018                                  Prospects and concepts, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
                                             Unfair, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, NL
                                             Art Cologne represented by Lumen Travo gallery , Cologne, DE
   2017                                 Soloshow: The chemistry between doctor Frank and me, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam, NL
   2016                                 Work Title Situation #4, Work Space Brussels, Brussels, BE
                                             Let us meet and let us meet again, Casco, Utrecht, NL
   2015                                 Work Title Situation #3, Work Space Brussels, Brussels, BE
                                             I wish I never kissed that frog, Jeanine Hofland gallery, Amsterdam, NL
                                             Art Brussels, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery, Brussels, BE
                                             Art Rotterdam, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery , Rotterdam, NL
   2014                                 Unfair,  Amsterdam, NL
                                             Started, Czech Centres, Prague, CZ
                                             Start Point Prize, Arti et Amacetiae, Amsterdam, NL
                                             We Know This Much, Space Untitled, Maarssen, NL
   2013                                 Start Point Prize, KASK, Ghent, BE
                                             The Artist As Producer, Bewaerschole, Burgh, NL
                                             Start Point Prize, Dox, Prague, CZ
                                             Best Of Graduates Exhibitions, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam, NL
                                             Exposure, HKU, Utrecht, NL
                                             Formal Attire, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg, NL

   PERFORMANCE 
   2020                                  We do matter - with Nick Steur -, Beyond the Black Box (de Brakke Grond), Amsterdam, NL
   2019                                  We do matter - with Nick Steur -, Playground Festival (STUK and Museum M), Louvain, BE
   2016                                  We do matter - with Nick Steur -, Work Title Situation #4, Les Brigittines, Brussels, BE



│R E S I D E N C I E S│ 

   2024                                  Residency @ Buitenplaats Doornburgh (cancelled due to the venue closing)
   2019                                  Residency @ atelier KANS with Nick Steur, made possible by SoAP Maastricht, Brussels
   2019                                  KAMEN artist residency, Orah. Click here
   2014                                  Startpoint Prize Emerging Artist Residency, Prague

│P R I Z E S   /   N O M I N A T I O N S   /    F U N D S│

   2024                                  Seed Grant for EKWC, Stokroos, NL
                                              Projectinvestment for EKCW, Prins Berhard Culture Fund, NL
   2023                                  Projectinvestment, Amarte Fund, NL
                                              Projectinvestment, Mondrian Fund, NL
                                              Projectinvestment for Lustwarande, Niemeijer Fund, NL
                                              Projectinvestment for Lustwarande, Prins Bernard Culture Fund, NL
   2022                                  Nomination Fenterer van Vlissingen prize, NL
   2021                                  Artist Basic grant, Mondriaan Fund, NL 
   2020                                  Nomination, K.F.Hein stipend, NL
   2019                                  Nomination NN group art award, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
                                              Project investment, Mondrian fund, NL
                                              Project investment, Gerbrandy culture fund, NL
   2016                                  Interest free loan awarded, Fonds Kwadraat, NL
                                              Werkbijdrage Jong Talent, Mondrian fund, NL
   2013                                  Prize winner, Startpoint Prize: Best European Emerging Artist, CZ

│P R E S S│ (selection)

   PUBLICATIONS
   2018                                  Between grace and fury, made possible by Kunstvereniging Diepenheim
   2014                                  Matea Bakula, made possible by GAVU Cheb & Start Point Prize

   INTERVIEWS AND CATALOGS
   2024                                  Kunst is Lang
   2023                                  Zout Magazine
                                              Brabants Dagblad
                                              Ticket to Tilburg
                                              Metropolis M
                                              K.F.Hein 
   2021                                  Lage Landen
   2020                                  Mister Motley
                                              Art Utrecht
                                              Young collectors circle
   2019                                  Palet Magazine
                                              NN group Award catalog 
   2018                                  Mister Motley
                                              Prospects and Concepts 
                                              Kunstvereniging Diepenheim
   2016                                  Tijdschrift Ei #46
   2014                                  GAVU
                                              Temp Magazine
                                              Metropolis M
   2013                                  Startpoint catalog
 

│C O L L E C T I ON S│

   2014 -                                 Centraal Museum, NL
                                               KPMG, NL
                                               K.F.Hein, NL
                                               Strand Links, NL
                                               Various national and international private collections

│O T H E R    A C T I V I T I E S│

   2021 –                                  Member of Networked Collective: a collective consisting of thirty makers who create exhibitions together
                                                 in which they collectively explore the social process of collaboration.
   2015 -2017                          Member @ Das Spectrum at initiative in Utrecht
   2013 - 2014                         Committee member, Foundation AAN: Platform for starting artists, Utrecht