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AIJA CIMIŅA BLEY
+371 29455955 | bley.aija@gmail.com | www.aijabley.lv | Instagram: @aija_bleyPROFILE
Aija Bley is an emerging contemporary textile artist whose current practice began during her MA studies in Textile Art at the Art Academy of Latvia. Her work develops through textile objects, installation, appliqué, ceramics and performance, following a previous professional background in film directing and photography.EDUCATION
2026 – MA in Textile Art, Art Academy of La
2018 – MA in Visual Communication, Art Academy of Latvia
2010 – BA in Film Directing, Latvian Academy of CultureSELECTED CONTEMPORARY TEXTILE / INSTALLATION / PERFORMANCE EXHIBITIONS
2026 – The Guardian, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils
2025 – Scream, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils
2024 – Neither Birds Nor Beasts, Roja & Salacgrīva, Latvia
2024 – Dust, Starptelpa Festival, Riga Circus
2023 – Ritual, Riga Art SpaceCURRENT PRACTICE
My contemporary textile practice began during my MA studies at the Art Academy of Latvia. I work with used clothing, textile fragments, appliqué, fibre, ceramics, installation and performance. My current research focuses on protective rituals, mask traditions, archaic art, shamanic practices and the transformation of creative energy into a practice of protection.PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: PHOTOGRAPHY
2022 – New Eyes, Joseph Le Palais Gallery, Paris; SUPER S / Pop-up, Budapest
2020 – ZERO Waste, Chamber Gallery, Riga
2020 – Memory, Gallery Aminori, Riga
2019 – Eating Pineapples on the Moon, Riga Photomonth
2017 – Beyond ’91, CLB Berlin; THEY, Museum of Photography, Riga
2015 – Love Stories, Riga Art Space
2012 – Later, Museum of Photography, Riga
2011 – Survival Kit 3 – Communists, RigaBOOKS
2020 – Class 8b – illustration and text: Aija Bley
2012 – Georgia. Talking with the Doves – photographs by Aija Bley, text by Elvita Ruka
2011 – Tajikistan. Wallet With Little Birds – photographs by Aija Bley, text by Elvita Ruka
2011 – Kyrgyzstan. Disobedient Asian Daughter – photographs by Aija Bley, text by Elvita Ruka
2011 – Uzbekistan. Between Gold and Uranium – photographs by Aija Bley, text by Elvita RukaPREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: FILM
2020 – We Wanted to Change the World – 36th Warsaw International Film Festival
2019 – Free Space
2014 – Restart
2009 – Dances of Elves – co-production with NDR/3sat TV, Germany
2008 – Ice-Breaker and His Children – Grand Prize, Moscow XI Eurasian Teleforum
2008 – Choice – Grand Prize, Moscow XI Eurasian Teleforum
2003 – The Sounds of the Seasons – Special Prize, Lodz; Jury Award, Bratislava
2005 – Island of Doctor D – nominated for Best Animation & Artist, Lielais Kristaps
2004 – Merry Christmas! – Special Prize, 9th International Film Festival, Siena, Italy