Margarita Ivy

Born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, in 1998, Margarita Ivy is now based in Prague. Currently, she is in the final stages of her educational journey at the Intermedia Art studio, led by Michal Pěchouček, at Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague. Ivy's artistic exploration is deeply rooted in themes of mortality; she skillfully delves into her own reservoir of childhood memories and personal symbolism to craft her reflective pieces.

The metamorphosis of her strongest childhood memories-en-counters with death, into tenderly sacred, posthumous animal stories became a necessary means of self-preservation, a process as natural to her as death had become. She carefully dips the animals into a formaldehyde bath and gradually deposits them into airy epoxy environments. It is precisely in that toxic, loving process that the more conscious “big kids,” who have already asked themselves questions about the meaning of existence, find solace.

Ivy's artistic process is imbued with a toxic tenderness, a combination that mirrors the duality of existence itself. This dichotomy offers a unique perspective for those who, like the "big kids" mentioned, have already begun pondering the profound questions surrounding the meaning of life. Through her art, she offers solace—a poignant reminder that contemplation of mortality need not be a path to darkness, but rather a journey that brings comfort and even understanding.