Kostya Benkovich (b. 1981)
Education: Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design.
An international artist based in Finland, whose works have been acquired by museums and major private collections worldwide. He has been included in the list of the best contemporary Russian artists (ARTEEX), as well as in the 49ART rating for 2021/2022 in the “Outstanding Contemporary Russian Artists Under 50” category.
In 2021, The Art Newspaper named him among the prominent artists of his time and generation. His works have been exhibited in leading museums and art venues around the world, including the Saatchi Gallery in London, the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, and the Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow, among others.
His street art and performances have gone viral, impacting millions and allowing him to take a critical stance on existing contradictions and social injustices in the world, which he expresses through social media. His work The Suitcase, dedicated to the issues faced by refugees and first exhibited at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, was supported by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the UK. In 2024, it was officially accepted into Edinburgh’s fine art collection, the largest in Scotland.
https://www.kostyabenkovich.com
