Karina Medreczky biography – Molnár Ani Galéria

Katalin Kortmann-Járay & Karina Mendreczky

In their artistic work, the artist-duo Katalin Kortmann-Járay (1986, Budapest, lives and works in Budapest) and Karina Mendreczky (1988, Budapest, lives and works in Vienna and Budapest) explore the impact of culture and the current environmental influence on human perception. Through animistic perspectives rooted in the ecological crisis and recently gaining prominence, they create their stories through landscapes and accessible sets that interweave the symbolism of fairy tales, memory, quasi-religious motifs, and mysticism. Kortmann-Járay and Mendreczky have been working closely together since 2019. They create large-scale, walk-through installations using a spatial collage of various elements. Their cooperated work combines different techniques and materials to create their metaphorically feminine spaces. They have presented a large-scale show as the first exhibition of the Salon in the MQ Wien, curated by Verena Kaspar Eisert in 2023, and their duo won the Esterházy Art Award in the same year.

Karina Mendreczky

1988, Budapest
lives and works in Vienna and Budapest

Studies

2009–2015
Universität für angewandte Kunst, Bildende und Mediale Kunst, Grafik und Druckgrafik (Prof. Jan Svenungsson), Vienna, AT

2014–2015

University of the Arts London, Printmaking and Time-based Media, London, UK

Selected Duo Exhibitions with Katalin Kortmann-Járay

2023
Installation for the Esterházy Art Award exhibition, curated by Vitus Weh, Ludwig Museum, Budapest, HU

Oasis, Q21 Salon, curated by Verena Kaspar-Eisert, Vienna, AT

2022
Buzz, Studio Gallery/SYAA, Budapest, HU
People Look Like Flowers at Last, Parallel Vienna 2022, Vienna, AT

Selected Group Exhibitions, Biennials and Fairs

2023
Verwobene Texturen. Zeitgenössische Textilkunst aus Deutschland und Ungarn, CHB, Berlin, DE
Parallel Edition, Gallery Rudolf Leeb, Neuer Wiener Kunstverein, Vienna, AT
Transitional objects, transitional landscapes, curated by Ajna Maj, Deák Erika Gallery, Budapest, HU

2022
Grafik Art Biennial of Szeklerland 2022, RO
Body and Nature, Showroom 05, Vienna, AT
Dear Martha turn around, Duo exhibition with Emma Kling, NEW NOW Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, DE
Celebration, Studio Gallery/SYAA, Budapest, HU
Parallel Edition, Gallery Rudolf Leeb, Sempere Depot, Vienna, AT
Auf der Suche nach einem kulturellen Attraktor, Mauve, Vienna, AT

2021
A Better Time, They Say, 1111 Gallery, Budapest, HU
A Whale of a Bad Time/Spinning the Sticky Threads of Childhood Memories: From Cold War to Anthropoce conference, Gábor Sillye Cultur House, Hajdúböszörmény, HU
Fair For Art Vienna 2021, Galerie Rudolf Leeb, Vienna, AT
Walter Koschatzky Preis 21 (nominated), Vienna, AT
Permanent residual, curated by: Ajna Maj, SYAA, Budapest, HU

2020
Bea, Eva, Magda, Solo Show, Galerie Rudolf Leeb, Vienna, AT
A Whale of a Bad Time, curated by Zsófi Kókai, ISBN Books and Gallery, Budapest, HU
Stand by, Galerie Rudolf Leeb, Vienna, AT

2019
Vienna Art Book Fair #1 with Druckwerk Wien, Vienna, AT
Awakening / Soft tools for self-expression and social disobedience, curated by Patrycja Rup (PL), FERi Gallery, Budapest, HU
FEMALE – lebt und arbeitet in Wien, curated by Veronika Rudorfer, Galerie Rudolf Leeb, Vienna, AT
Marianne emlékkönyvébe, curated by Bea Istvánkó, PINCE, Budapest, HU

Awards and Grants

2023
Esterházy Art Award , with Katalin Kortmann-Járay, Budapest, HU

2021
Walter Koschatzky Preis 21 (nominated), Vienna, AT

2015
Preis der Kunsthalle Wien, AT

2015
Nature Reloaded – New view on nature, Österreich Werbung, 3. Preis, AT

Memberships

2022
Studio Gallery/SYAA, Budapest, HU

2020
Bildrecht, Vienna, AT