Sophia Mainka

born in Munich, lives and works between Paris and Munich

Studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich with Alexandra Bircken and Stephan Huber (graduated as „Meisterschülerin“)

Workshops and studio visits with Manfred Pernice, Mariechen von Danz, Melanie Bonajo, Justin Liebermann, Nora Schulz and Andreas, Schmitten, among others

Studies of Philosophy and Literature at the LMU Munich, Germany

Artistic staff member and supervisor of their own class at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich.

Artistic assistant to Raphaela Vogel at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich

Artistic collaborator of Alexandra Bircken at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Germany

Finalist for the Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Scholarship

Residency, Oberpfälzerkünstlerhaus Schwandorf, Libourn, FR

Residency Fondation Fiminco, FR (2023-2024)
Studio Grant, City of Munich (2023-2026)
Residency Cité internationale des Arts Paris, Follow-up Residency, FR
Prize (Nomination), Bayerischer Kunstförderpreis

Cité international des Arts Paris residency scholarship

Bavarian Ministry of Science and the Arts´Residency scholarship, Kunstverein Ebersberg, Germany

Kickstarter Scholarship, Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn, Germany

Working Scholarship /Special Support Programme, Neustart Kultur, Bonn Art Fund Foundation, Germany

Neue Kunst, Neue Wege, Working Scholarship, Bayern, Germany

Catalogue funding‘ by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art

Catalogue funding by the LFA-Förderbank

Project funding by the Erwin and Gisela von Steiner Foundation

Studio scholarship ARMIRA, Europa Platz

Debutant Award of the Gallery of Artists Munich, Germany

Debutant Award of the Erwin and Gisela von Steiner Foundation

Studio sponsorship of the City of Munich, Germany

PLAYGROUND ART PRIZE by GALERIE VON&VON, Nürnberg, Germany

Leonard and Ida Wolf Memorial Award of the City of Munich, Germany

That which crawl between Galerie The Tiger Room, Munich

Notes on Roommates (a dog, a parrot, a whale and a canal) // GiG Munich, Munich, curated by Magdalena Wisniowska
"Throw of the dice", Galerie Sperling, Munich, Duo with Lukas Hoffmann, curated by Magdalena Wisniowska

Artissima, Solo presentation with Galerie VON&VON, Present Future Section, Torino, IT

Holidays Crash, La Garaage, Kunstverein, Germany
Ebersberg, Ebersberg, Germany

SHTF, Rosa Stern Space, Munich, Germany

Himmelstreppe 5, Art 66, Munich, Germany
Zweites Paradies, Künstlerhaus Lauenburg, Lauenburg/ Elbe, Germany

Hier gibt es viele, die dich weinen, Akademiegalerie, Munich, Germany
Cure for Wellness, Kösk, Munich, Germany

Tierisch, Identiftikationslos, Emotiongeladen, Kösk, Munich, Germany

Traumfalte, strep across gallery, Munich, Germany

Finalistinnen Ausstellung Kunsthaus Dahlem, Brücke-Museum, Berlin, Germany

Meet me here tomorrow (again), All Street Gallery, New York City, USA
La logique des lieux, La Chauffrie, Romainville, FR
Nord-Est , Poush, Aubervilliers, FR
From animal to mineral, Lothringer Halle 13, München
Klohäuschen Biennale, München

Open Studios, Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, FR
Meine drei lyrischen Ichs, Kunstverein, Munich
Open Studios, Armira Studios, Munich
Open Studios, Baumstraße, Munich
Jahresgaben, Kunstverein, Munich

Newcomer II, Galerie Cubeplus, Kiel
Behind a rainbow, Stadtgalerie Lauenburg, Lauenburg
We can be heros, Galerie Wolfgang Jahn, Munich
Trophees, Armira, Munich
Dear future, what i can do for you? Citè international des Arts, Paris
NCAKSYR, Kunstpavillon, Munich
Uncanny Village, Lost Weekend, Munich
Jahresgaben, Kunstverein, Munich
VuK, Verein urbaner Kunst, Munich

Debutants, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany
beg your Pardon?, Gallery of Artists, Munich, Germany
High End, Museum Villa Rot, Burgrieden, Germany

Jahresgaben Kunstverein, Munich, Germany
Tacker, Gallery of Artists, BBK, Munich, Germany
Preserving Normality, rosa stern space, Munich, Germany
Jewerelly, no-Jewerelly, reception hall, Munich, Germany
Da warf sie ihre Zunge heraus, frukta, Munich, Germany (reading with Sophie Schmidt)
Carmen, Diploma Exhibition, AdBK Munich

Obejct!Model!Pattern!, Empfangshalle, Munich, Germany
Playground, GALERIE VON&VON, Nuremberg, Germany
Babyparty, Z-Common Ground, Munich, Germany
some stories, Vorwerk 21, Hamburg, Germany
Eine Mauer aus fießend Wasser, Kunstblock BAL, Germany

Cannibals with feelings, Kunstarkaden, Munich, Germany
Learning to walk, Kunstverein, Munich, Germany

Neumayer III Neumayer III, Ekström-Schelfeis, Germany
Autistic fragments Gasteig, Jazzfest, Munich, Germany
Zimmer frei, Hotel Mariandl, Munich, Germany
Freizeit- und Kneipensport, Weltraumgalerie, Munich, Germany
Fade, Domagkateliers, Munich, Germany
Around Quarzarzate, KribisKrabis Festival, Olang, Italy

We used to be wild, Musee de la chasse et de la nature, Paris, France 

We used to be wild, Centre Wallonie Bruexelles, Paris, France and Akademie der schönen Künste, Berlin, Germany

We used to be wild, Musee de la chasse et de la nature, Paris, France

„we used to be wild“, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris, FR
„we used to be wild“, Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, FR

„Meine drei Lyrischen Ichs“, reading and exhibition at Kunstverein Munich, Germany, with Sophie Schmidt

Sunday`s Screening, Screening of the film „Home and Hearth“ at the Cité internationale des Arts, Paris, France

Retrospect! Screening of the film „Muschis und Englischer Rasen“ in StadtgalerieLauenburg/Elbe, Germany

Cooperations, reading at Import Export, Munich, Germany, with Sophie Schmidt

Meine Zunge war der schönste Vorhang, reading at  Fructa, Munich, Germany, with Sophie SchmidtI

feel safe, performance at Empfangshalle, Munich, with Domino Pyttel

fade, performance and reading at Halle 50, Domagk, Munich, Germany, with Adrian Sölch

La logique des lieux, zine accompanying the group exhibition,
Publisher: Fondation Fiminco, Edition: 1500 copies

Newcomer, Behind a rainbow
catalog for group exhibition, published by Künstlerhaus Lauenburg
Edition of 500

Big House Silver Star, single catalogue / artist‘s book

Publisher: self-published
Edition of 300

Zweites Paradies, catalogue for solo exhibition,
Publisher: Künstlerhaus Lauenburg
Edition of 250

Nachrichten im Künstlerinnenpr.kariat, with Sophie Schmidt

Publisher: Online Magazin Wepsert