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Aija Bley
+371 29455955
bley.aija@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2024–present – Art Academy of Latvia, MA studies in Textile Art
2019–2022 – Art Academy of Latvia, MA in Printmaking
2016–2018 – Art Academy of Latvia, MA in Visual Communication
1995–1997 – Latvian Academy of Culture, BA in Film Directing
1991–1994 – Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, BA in Festival Directing
participation in workshops:
2016 Arnold van Bruggen, Anoek Steketee: Long-term Documentary Projects
2016 ISSP International Masterclass of photojournalism (Yuri Kozyrev & Andrei
Polikanov)
2013 Photography studies in ISSP, LV;
2013 Jan Grarup photography masterclass;
2013 Niko Baumgarten book creation masterclass;
2012 Simon Norfolk photography masterclass;
2012 Jodie Bieber photography masterclass;
2011 Workshop with Sarah Leen and Bill Marr (National Geographic Magazine) Documentary Photo Essay, Latvia;
2011 International Summer School of Photography – ISSP Workshop “Creative documentary: Using reality to create personal fiction” by Claudine Doury (FR);
2010 International Summer School of Photography – ISSP Workshop “Documentary Practice and Narrative: The Long Term Project” by George Georgiou (UK);
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 – Ne putni ne zvēri, Roja & Salacgrīva, Latvia
2020 "ZERO Waste", Chamber gallery, Riga, Latvia
2018 “D27”, Gallery of Contemporary Art Nr.9, Riga, Latvia
2017 “ Flowers and Lovers”, Gallery of Contemporary Art Nr.9, Riga, Latvia
2016 “Dreamers”, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Livani, Latvia
2015 “Love stories”, Riga Art Space, Latvia
2014 “Workshop of Portret”, Kanepes Culture centre Riga, Latvia
2012 “Later”, Museum of Photography, Riga, Latvia
2006 – Deal with Time, Andrejsala, Riga
2002–2003 – Paris Walks / Running Frog, NOASS Gallery, Riga
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 – Scream, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils
2024 – Dust, 'Starptelpa' Festival, Riga Circus
2023 – Ritual, Riga Art Space
2022 – New Eyes, Joseph Le Palais Gallery, Paris; SUPER S / Pop-up, Budapest
2020 "Memory" Gallery "Aminori", Riga, Latvia
2019 “Eating Pineapples on the Moon”, Riga Photomonth, Latvia
2017 “Beyond ‘91”, CLB Berlin, Germany
2017 “ THEY” Museum of Photography, Riga, Latvia
2016 “ NON FASHION”, Contemporary Art Center, Minsk, Belarus
2016 “ OMEGA3”, Mooste, Estonia
2016 “Territories, Borders and Check-Points”, Riga Photomonth, Latvia
2016 “1st International Photography Symposium” Mark Rothko Arts Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
2014 “Riga self/portraits”, Tobacco factory,Riga, Latvia
2013 “Translating the References”, The Centre of
Contemporary Arts, Latvia
2012 “9 Months”, Riga Kanepe Culture Centre, Latvia
2012 Contemporary Art Festival “Survival KIT 4, Riga, Latvia
2012 Participation in the group photo exhibition “9 months” with a multimedia
project “Good Luck”, Riga, Latvia
2011 Participation in the Contemporary Art Festival "Survival Kit 3" with video
installation "Communists" Riga, Latvia
photo Books:
2020 "Nowhereland"
2019 “Alien”
2013 “Taxi Boys”
2012 “Once the Roses were in Bloom”
2012 “Georgia. Talking with the Doves” Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2011 "Tajikistan. Wallet With Little Birds ". Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2011 "Kyrgyzstan. Disobedient Asian Daughter "Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
2011 "Uzbekistan. Between Gold and Uranium" Photo Aija Bley, text Elvita Ruka;
films (selection):
documentaries:
2020 “ We wanted to change the world”;
2019 “Free space”;
2014 “ Restart”,
2009 “Dances of Elves”, co-production with NDR/3sat TV (Germany);
2009 “Mansur’s War Dance”;
2008 “Ice –Breaker and His Children” - has received the main prize in Moscow, XI International Eurasian Teleforum, in nomination “The Family of Russia”;
2008 “Choice” – has received the main prize in Moscow, XI International Eurasian Teleforum, in nomination “Sport in the name of life”;
2006 “Talking on the Way”;
2005 “How I Went to Look for Reindeer”;
2004 “Village Close to Heaven”;
2003 “The Sounds of the Seasons”, (Lettland – Wildnis zwischen Rusland und Riga) - Special prize in Pushalski’s film festival in Lodza, Jury award in international documentary movie festival in Bratislav;
animation:
2011 “Woman and Wind”;
2005 “Island of Doctor D” - nomination for the best animation film and the best animation artist in Film Festival “Lielais Kristaps”, Latvia;
2004 “The Prickly” – nomination as the best debut in Film Festival “Lielais Kristaps”, Latvia.
features:
2004 “Merry Christmas!” - Special prize in 9th International film festival in Sienna, Italy.
social activities:
Member of Latvian Filmmakers Union
Member of Latvian Film Producers Association
language:
Latvian
German
English
Russian