Noblessner, Kai Art Center building – Peetri 12, 10415, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 6405770, info@temnikova.ee. Opening hours: 
Wed—Fri 13—18, Sat 14—18

Kris Lemsalu

Kris Lemsalu (b. 1985) is an artist based in New York and Tallinn. She studied at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn; Danmarks Designskole, Copenhagen; and Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna.

Having studied ceramics, Lemsalu often experiments with traditional techniques to create multilayered works. Her staged installations combine delicate porcelain sculptures cast as animal and human body parts or objects of clothing with found natural materials like fur, leather or wool. These can act as self-sufficient narratives, or alternatively as a stage for Lemsalu’s performances, the sculptures sometimes becoming a part of her costumes and props. For her recent works, the artist collaborated with musicians adding a further element to her performances (“Going, going”, with Kyp Malone, curated by Esa Nickle and Maaike Gouwenberg, Performa 17 Biennial, New York; and a performance with Glasser, DRAF performance night, KOKO, London, both 2017).

Lemsalu’s recent exhibitions include "On the Absurd Drama That is Also Life", Moderna Museet (2024), Stockholm, Sweden, "Holly Hell Ooo", Magazin 4, Bregenz, Austria (2024); "One foot in gravy", Margot Samel, New York (2024); "Chará", Belvedere 21, Museum of Contemporary Art, Vienna, Austria (2024); "Donatella", Tartu Art Museum, Tartu, Estonia (2024); "Rinky Dink Babe", Kendall Koppe, Glasgow, UK (2022); "Angels Gone Pissing", Temnikova & Kasela Gallery, Tallinn (2022), Vienna; "Peace @ 295 Church Street", Margot Samel Gallery, New York (2022); "Love Stories", Meyer Kainer, Vienna (2022); "A Snail's Tale" with Kyp Malone, High Line Art, New York (2021);  "It's a Family Affair" with Kyp Malone, Hunt Kastner, Prague (2021); "Going Going" with Kyp Malone, Den Frie, Copenhagen (2020); "Love Song Sing-Along", with Kyp Malone, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2020); Estonian Pavilion, 58th Venice Biennial (2019); "Keys Open Doors", Secession, Vienna (2018); "4LIFE", Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art, London ( 2018); “There and Back Again”, group show curated by Kati Kivinen and Saara Hacklin, Kiasma, Helsinki (2018); “The Wild Ones”, Koppe Astner, Glasgow (2017–2018); "Steps to Aeration", group show curated by Sarah McCrory, Tanya Leighton, Berlin; CONDO London, with Josh Faught, Koppe Astner hosted at Sadie Coles (2017); “The Hierophant”, group show curated by Aaron Moulton, Galeria Nicodim, Bucharest (2017); “Metamorphosis”, group show curated by Zdenek Felix, KAI 10 / Arthena Foundation, Düsseldorf, Galerie Guido W. Baudach, Berlin, and Galerie SVIT, Prague (2017); “Aftermieter”, group show curated by Veit Loers, Haus Mödrath – Räume für Kunst, Kerpen (2017); “Afternoon Tear Drinker”, curated by Hemma Schmutz, Kunstraum Lakeside, Klagenfurt (2016); “Beauty and the Beast”, with Tiit Pääsuke, curated by Tamara Luuk, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn (2016).

Selected works

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Fine Sin

ceramics, chrysocolla, rose quartz, sodalite, chalcopyrite peacock ore, amethyst, blue calcite, metal frame 56×56×18cm 2022

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Night Waiting for the Day

ceramics, chrysocolla, rose quartz, sodalite, chalcopyrite peacock ore, amethyst, blue calcite, metal frame 48×52×18cm 2022

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Crybaby I

ceramics, fabric, metal 140×90×80cm 2022

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Crybaby II

ceramics, fabric, metal 140×90×80cm 2022

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Moo-Pa

ceramics 51×80×86cm 2021

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Moo-Ma

ceramics 91×80×76cm 2021

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Birth V opening performance

2019

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Sally, Go Around the Roses

cast ceramics, textiles, climbing wall grips 2018

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Mysteriously Conceived and Deeply Felt

porcelain, textiles, metal, coins, roses, water 136×134×70cm 2018

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So Let us Melt and Make no Noise

boat, porcelain, rope, balloons, metal 280×140×70cm 2017

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I Will Be Seven When We Meet In Heaven

ceramics, textile, metal, hair dryers, wind chimes 102×58cm 2016

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Blanket 1

porcelain, textile, mixed media 145×115cm 2016

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Blanket 2

porcelain, textile, mixed media 145×115cm 2016

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Blanket 3

porcelain, textile, mixed media 145×115cm 2016

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Star

Porcelain, textile, cd-s, plastic mirror, foam, silicone, parachute 2016

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Cool Girls Without Hands

porcelain, cement, metal, dyed lambskin, textile, skateboards 2016

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Treasure Box Violence

ceramics, fur, textile, metal, chairs 2016

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Fine With Afterlife

ceramics, artificial flowers, xylophone 2015

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Whole Alone II

perfomance, installation: porcelain, egg cartons, waterbed, metal, eggs, gemstones 2015

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Aldonza Lorenzo

porcelain, stockings 110×27cm 2014

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Two Silent Instruments Prepairing to Tour Forever

ceramics, textile, leather, bricks, legos 2013

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Father is in Town

ceramics, lamb fur, wild pig fur, foam 2012

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In My Bathtub I'm the Captain

ceramics, textile, metal 2012

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Phantom Camp

ceramics, sleeping bags 2012

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Evian Desert

porcelain, ceramics, sand 65×55×40cm 2012

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Wisdom and Eggs

ceramics, textile, inflatable boat, bricks 250×80×110cm 2011

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When the Big Trees Were Kings

ceramics, metal, wool, fountain motors 2011

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Gallery Exhibitions

Other Exhibitions

Fairs

Press