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.

Katalin Kortmann-Járay

1986, Budapest
Lives and works in Budapest

Studies

2019–
Doctoral Studies, Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest
2006–2012
Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest
2011
Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, DE

Studies

2019–
Doctoral Studies, Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest
2006–2012
Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest
2011
Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, DE

Selected Duo Exhibitions with Karina Mendreczky

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, Triennials and Fairs
2023
Island and its Possibilities, curated by Julia Salamon and Balázs Kicsiny, AQB project Space, Budapest, HU
Eternit, outdoor project, curated by Anna Zsoldos and Anna Seress, Budapest, HU
The eco-theatrical shape-shifter – landscape as a political agitator, curated by Like a little disaster, Museum of Contemporary Art Pino Pascali, Polignano a Mare, IT
Mediating Time and Charm, curated by Mónika Zsikla, Q Contemporary, Budapest, HU
Mondva Csinált Dolgok, curated by Ajna Maj, Glassyard Gallery, Budapest, HU
Parallel Edition, with Galerie Rudolf Leeb, Vienna, AT
An ideal meal, curated by Henriette and Viktor Seibert, Studio Hannibal, Berlin, DE
Transitional objects, transitional landscapes, Curated by Ajna Maj, Deák Erika Gallery, Budapest, HU

2022
Maradjon köztünk, curated by Julia Salamon and Marta Czene, Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest HU
Regresso, CHB, curated by Zsuzska Petró, Orsolya Lia Vető, Patrick Nicholas Tayler
Fair For Art Vienna 2021 with Galerie Rudolf Leeb, Vienna, AT
The man who stepped in paint, curated by Kitti Klaudia Harmati, MKE Profil, Budapest, HU

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
Walter Koschatzky Preis 21 (nominated), Vienna, AT
Fireworks, curated by Eva Bubla, Placcc Festival 2021, Budapest, HU
Permanent residual, curated by Ajna Maj, SYAA, Budapest, HU

2020
A Whale of a Bad Time, curated by Zsófia Kókai, ISBN Books and Gallery, Budapest, HU

2019
Oft die Zukunfz ist schon da, ehe wir ihr gewachsen sind, Internationales Willi Münzenberg Forum, Berlin, DE
Marianne Emlékkönyvébe, curated by Bea Istvánkó, PINCE, Budapest, HU

2018
Art Spring Berlin, 2018, Studio, Exhibition, Berlin, Germany
Tokyo International Mini-Print Triennial, Tama Art University, Tokyo, JP
Heise Kunstpreis Dessau, Autohaus Heise, Dessau, DE
The 5th International Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, RO

2017
Opdagelser 2017, Gallery Heike Arndt Dk, Kettinge, DK
Magic mirror in my hand…, Outdoor installation with EÖS project, Vienna, AT
Fresh Legs, Gallery Heike Arndt Dk, Berlin, DE

2016
Heartfield und Grosz, Montage_16, FMP1, Berlin, DE
Fundamental, The 5. Mediations Biennale, CK Zamek, Poznan, PL
Art Lab Kettinge, Gallery Heike Arndt DK, Kettinge, DK
In Vielfalt, Prize and Exhibiton, Eggenstein-Leopoldhafen, DE

2015
Unsere Leben wären alle ganz anders verlaufen…, Gallery2, Auguststrasse, Berlin, DE

2013
18 qm, Berlin, Art residency-collaboration, Berlin, DE
Soundscape Festival, Cres, Landart Week, Osor, HR
EatLandManArt, Landart Week, Boxtel, Landart Week, Boxtel, NL

2012
Best of Diploma, The Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest, HU

Awards and Grants
2023
Esterházy Art Award, with Karina Mendreczky, Budapest, HU Ludwig Scholarship
Visegrad Scholarship with SOPA Gallery, SL
Gallery Budapest Artist Exchange Program, Krems, AU

2021
Gallery Budapest Artist Exchange Program, Budapest, HU

2019
Award of the International Willi Münzenberg Forum, Berlin, DE

Memberships
2019
Studio of Young Artists’ Association, Budapest, HU