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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River Rock Bird Sky
ceramics, wood, fabric, metal, leather, horsehair 220×250×105cm 2022






Mama is in your bed
ceramics, metal bed 110×220×120cm 2022







Car2Go
metal construction, glass, plastic, bricks, blankets, ceramics, textiles, dimensions variable 2016






Birth V - Hi & Bye
ceramics, mixed media 2019







Angels Gone Pissing
ceramics, fabric, mixed media 2017 - 2022








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







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





I Will Be Seven When We Meet In Heaven
ceramics, textile, metal, hair dryers, wind chimes 102×58cm 2016




Mysteriously Conceived and Deeply Felt
porcelain, textiles, metal, coins, roses, water 136×134×70cm 2018










So Let us Melt and Make no Noise
boat, porcelain, rope, balloons, metal 280×140×70cm 2017




Chará
coloured resin 550cm 2024




Give Us A Song
ceramics, textiles, baby grand piano, wooden chair, brick, paper, metal 68×140×226cm 2022




Mother Gone Pissing III
ceramics, canvas, coffee, watercolour 130×95cm 2022






Lazy flower
ceramics, metal, mirror, textile, wood 2021




Sally, Go Around the Roses
cast ceramics, textiles, climbing wall grips 2018



Gallery Exhibitions
Other Exhibitions

One foot in gravy, Margot Samel, New York
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Donatella, Tartu Art Museum, Tartu, Estonia
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Sculpture Chará, Kunstplatz Graben, Vienna
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Peace @ 295 Church Street, Margot Samel, New York
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Love Song Sing Along (Once Again With Feeling!), Kai Art Center, Tallinn
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Birth V - Hi & Bye, Estonian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Venice
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4LIFE, Goldsmiths CCA, London
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