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Aija BLEY Cimina
Interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker
Latvia
+371 29455955 · bley.aija@gmail.com · www.aijabley.lv · Instagram: @aija_bleyProfile
Aija Bley is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker working across textile, installation, performance, photography and moving image. Her recent practice explores the presence of protective rituals in contemporary textile art. Through reused fabrics, appliqué, embroidery, masks and sculptural forms, she creates spaces in which protection becomes a physical and participatory experience. She also works as a lecturer, drawing on her background in film directing and visual art.
Education
2026–present — Professional doctoral studies in art, Art Academy of Latvia
2026 — MA in Textile Art, Art Academy of Latvia
2022 — MA in Printmaking, Art Academy of Latvia
2018 — MA in Visual Communication, Art Academy of Latvia
2010 — BA in Film Directing, Latvian Academy of CultureSelected solo exhibitions
2026 — Protection Space (Aizsargtelpa), Roja Culture Centre, Roja, Latvia
2024 — Neither Birds Nor Beasts, Roja and Salacgrīva, Latvia
2020 — ZERO Waste, Chamber Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2018 — D27, Gallery No. 9, Riga, Latvia
2017 — Flowers and Lovers, Gallery No. 9, Riga, Latvia
2016 — Dreamers, Contemporary Art Gallery, Līvāni, Latvia
2015 — Love Stories, Riga Art Space, Latvia
2012 — Later, Latvian Museum of Photography, Riga, LatviaSelected group exhibitions and artistic projects
2026 — Protection Space, MA graduation installation, Art Academy of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
2026 — The Guardian, Borderland (Pierobeža), group exhibition, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
2025 — Scream, Wishes (Vēlēšanās), group exhibition, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
2024 — In the Silence of Cannons (Lielgabalu klusumā), group exhibition, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
2024 — Dust, drawing performance, Starptelpa festival, Riga Circus, Latvia
2023 — Rituals, Riga Art Space, Latvia
2022 — New Eyes, Joseph Le Palais Gallery, Paris, France
2022 — SUPER S / Pop-up, Budapest, Hungary
2020 — Memory, Aminori Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2019 — Eating Pineapples on the Moon, Riga Photomonth, Latvia
2017 — Beyond ’91, CLB Berlin, Germany
2017 — THEY, Latvian Museum of Photography, Riga, Latvia
2016 — NON FASHION, Contemporary Art Centre, Minsk, Belarus
2016 — OMEGA3, Mooste, Estonia
2012 — Survival Kit 4, Riga, Latvia
2011 — Survival Kit 3, video installation Communists, Riga, LatviaSelected filmography
Documentaries
2020 — We Wanted to Change the World; screened at the 36th Warsaw International Film Festival
2019 — Free Space
2014 — Restart
2009 — Dances of Elves; co-production with NDR/3sat, Germany
2008 — Ice-Breaker and His Children; Grand Prize, XI Eurasian Teleforum, Moscow
2008 — Choice; Grand Prize, XI Eurasian Teleforum, Moscow
2003 — The Sounds of the Seasons; awards in Łódź and BratislavaAnimation
2011 — Woman and Wind
2005 — Island of Doctor D; nominated for two Lielais Kristaps awards
2004 — The Hedgehog’s Coat (Eža kažociņš); 3D animated short film, the first professional Latvian 3D animated film; nominated for Best Debut at the Lielais Kristaps awardsFeature film
2004 — Merry Christmas!; Special Prize, 9th International Film Festival, Siena, Italy
Selected publications
2020 — Class 8b, text and illustrations by 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 RukaTeaching and professional practice
Lecturer in visual art and film; leads workshops in interdisciplinary artistic practice. Member of the Latvian Filmmakers Union and the Latvian Film Producers Association.
Languages: Latvian, English, German and Russian.