Helena Ospina Lizarralde is a interdisciplinary artist from Colombia, currently based in Berlin. Her practice engages with contemporary existential issues fostering a dialogue about the understanding of the world around us and how our existence is shaped by this awareness. Her work opens a reflection on our own temporal experiences.
At the core of Ospina’s practice is the act of questioning. And with this a line is drawn between narratives of what we know and questions towards the intangible. Her work shifts between research and poetic gestures spanning in participatory projects, installation, sculpture, writing and editorial work. Helena’s work explores the “matrix” of official language and objects, turning these constructed systems into metaphors.
Ospina Lizarralde is currently a MA candidate at the Royal College of Art, London, and holds a BA in Fine Arts from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Her work has been showcased in prominent international exhibitions, including ArteCámara at ARTBO (Bogotá’s International Art Fair) and during Berlin Art Week at Monopol Berlin. Most recently, she held a solo exhibition at Gallery VORFLUTER in Berlin. In 2023, she published her first artist book, Do You Paint or Do You Draw? which critically examines the intersection of art and capitalism, challenging the economic values that shape the identity of the artist in contemporary society.
CV
COLOMBIAN BASED IN LONDON/BERLIN
Education
2026 (candidate) MA Contemporary Art Practice. Royal College of Art. London.
2022 UDK Universität der Künste Berlin, guest student. (Prof. Kristina Leko)
2020 European Graduate School, seminars The Obscene Masters. (Prof. Slavoj Žižek)
Saas-Fee, Switzerland.
2018 BA in Fine Arts, Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá, Colombia.
Solo exhibitions
2024
One stitch per second, VORFLUTER Gallery. Berlin, Germany.
Selected group exhibitions
2024
Concreto sobre agua, Casa Lü. Mexico City, Mexico.
2023
ARCOT. Tokyo, Japan
Berlin Art Week Monopol, Berlin
2022
This is not a love song/ Räume für aktivierung, Galerie M. Berlin, Germany.
48 Stunden Neukölln. Berlin, Germany.
Art Spring Berlin, Kino Colosseum. Berlin, Germany.
2021
End of Nations, Monopol Berlin. Berlin, Germany.
GlogauAIR residency final exhibition. Berlin, Germany.
2020
ARTBO (Bogotá International Art Fair) , Artecámara. Antes de que todo sea polvo,
curated by Emiliano Valdés. Bogotá, Colombia.
2018 Al interior, Media Luna Gallery. Bogotá, Colombia.
2017 Exhibition MUDA, Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá, Colombia.
2015 Salón Séneca Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá, Colombia.
2014 American Society The Art of Living, USA Embassy. Bogotá, Colombia.
2012 PAFA Pennsylvania academy of fine arts. Pennsylvania, EEUU.
Publications
2025 (artist book) Do hands hold or are they held?. UK.
2025 (magazine) Nature and Wonder, DNA Magazine. Mexico.
2023 (artist book) Do you paint or do you draw?. Germany.
2021 (catalogue) GlogauAIR. Germany.
Lectures and Talks
2025 Lecture for BA Fine Arts, University of Salford. Manchester, UK.
2024 Artist talk, One stitch per Second exhibition. VORFLUTER. Berlin, Germany.
2022 Artist talk, Warum sind wir hier Projekt. Projktraum Galerie M. Berlin, Germany.
Recognitions / Residencies / Grants
2024 Residency at Casa Lü. Mexico City, Mexico.
2022 Selected mentee 2022, Artist Pilots Project (Mentor; Sonya Schönberger). Berlin, Germany.
2021 Residency at GlogauAIR. Berlin, Germany.
2012 Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of fine arts. Pennsylvania, EEUU.