Aliona Solomadina
Independent Graphic Designer, Artist & Researcher.

  • Co-authored and edited the book  Znak. Ukrainian Trademarks
    of the 1960s–80s
    (2019) as part of the U,N,A collective.

  • Specializes in book and editorial design, visual identities, art direction,
    and design curation.

  • Collaborates with cultural institutions, brands, and commercial entities.

  • Lived and worked in Kyiv until March 2022; currently based in Chicago
    following relocation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.


  • Clients
    Center for Architecture (AIANY)
    School of The Art Institute of Chicago 
    Albertinum Modern Art Museum in Dresden
    Ukrainian Book Institute
    Goethe-Institut Ukraine
    Kultur Shtiftung Ukraine
    Mac Paw
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
    PinchukArtCentre  
    Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna
    Dnipro Center for Contemporary Culture
    Bettter. Upcycling System 
    Marie Claire Ukraine
    Dovzhenko Centre
    Osnovy Publishing
    Rodovid Publishing
    Ukrainian Film Industry Association


    EDUCATION

    Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts (Ukraine).
    MA in graphic design.


    WORKING EXPERIENCE


    Design and Art direction

    Chief designer, Mystetskyi Arsenal.
    The National Culture and Museum Complex
    Kyiv,  2013–2017

    Art director, ArtUkraine magazine
    Kyiv, 2013–2014

    Designer, Karandash Design Bureau
    Kyiv, 2012–2013

    Design Curation and Research

    Znak. Ukrainian Trademarks 1960-80's
    The exhibition at the Mala Gallery of Mystetskyi Arsenal,
    Kyiv, 2017

    Znak. Ukrainian Trademarks 1960-80's. – Kyiv:
    Ist Publishing, 2019. – 160p.
    ISBN 978-617-7948-24-6

    Between Tradition and Innovation
    Exhibition of Ukrainian Designers at the 
    Dutch Design Week (Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2017)

    Talks and Lectures

    Spring Speaker Series RISD GD with U,N,A collective, 2024︎︎︎

    Roundtable: Decolonizing Ukrainian Design.︎︎︎
    The Cooper Union x The Ukrainian Museum
    New York, 2023

    Shuba
    Design Conference
    Dnipro, Ukraine, 2017

    Summer Academy for Publishers
    organized by Frankfurter Buchmesse
    Kyiv, 2017

    Ephemeroids. Twentieth-century in posters
    Kyiv, Mystetskyi Arsenal, 2016


    Awards

    The Best Book Design in Ukraine, 2020 – Grand Prize 
    The Best Book Design in Ukraine, 2021 – Special Jury Award
    The Best Book Design in Ukraine, 2022 – The Best Visual Book


    EXHIBITIONS /Selected/


    Formation of Time, solo show
    (The John David Mooney Foundation, Chicago, USA, 2023)

    One alphabet and project compositions,
    solo show (Artsvit Gallery, Dnipro, Ukraine, 2020) 

    Furora x PosterWomen (Berlin, 2018)

    International Triennial of Eco-posters 4th Block
    (Kharkiv-Kyiv, Ukraine, 2006, 2009, 2012)

    The 4th United Designs. International Design Exhibition
    (Los Angeles, USA, 2009)

    Poster Festival (Ljubljana, 2009)

    Visual Energy (Berlin, 2006)

    International Triennale of the Political Poster
    (Mons, Belgium, 2004)


    SCHOLARSHIPS and RESIDENCIES

    The John David Mooney Foundation,
    Chicago, USA, 2022-23

    ArtSvit Gallery, Dnipro, Ukraine, 2021

    Kunsthalle Praha, Exter programme
    by Ukrainian Institute, Prague, 2019

    Golden Bee Academy, Kotor, Montenegro, 2016

    Centre d'Art Marnay / CAMAC,
    Marnay-sur-Seine, France, 2011

    Fabrica Communication Research Centre,
    Treviso, Italy, 2008


    PRESS and MEDIA

    Chicago ReaderTimes of Uncertainty. Ukrainian artist Aliona Solomadina creates an homage to Chicago.︎︎︎

    Canvas Rebel: Meet Aliona Solomadina︎︎︎

    Canvas Rebel: Life & Work with Aliona Solomadina︎︎︎

    ProblemataInterview with U,N,A CollectiveOn the graphic commission and the Soviet influence in Ukraine. Contemporary points of view ︎︎︎

    Creative Boom'I only want to make clear visual messages, which may prevent or inform': Aliona Solomadina on the role of design in wartime ︎︎︎

    Kunsthalle PrahaAliona Solomadina: Lightness ︎︎︎

    Artsvit GalleryOne Alphabet and Project Compositions.
    Aliona Solomadina︎︎︎

    AIGA Eye On Design: One Woman’s Powerful Response
    to a Lack of Female-identifying Designers ︎︎︎








    ︎ alionasolomadina@gmail.com

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       Aliona Solomadina / graphic design