Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova Gets Her First Solo Show at Deitch Gallery

Pussy Riot's co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, a conceptual performance artist and global human rights activist, is getting her first solo show at Jeffrey Deitch, which opens to the public on January 27th.

Founded in August 2011, Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist activist group and performance art collective that started out in Moscow. Now largely known internationally for their punk rock music and acts of civil disobedience against the Russian State, hundreds of people identify as part of Pussy Riot. Over the years they've garnered support from thousands of people who have taken to the streets of major cities to protest alongside the collective, as well as from celebrities such as Björk, Madonna, and Paul McCartney amongst others.

The activist performance artist will be showcasing a video piece titled, Putin's Ashes, which she directed, edited, and scored herself. The work features a group of women engaging in a ritualistic ceremony of spell-casting and the eventual burning of a painted effigy of Russian President, Vladimir Putin. The video will be projected in 360 degrees on the gallery walls for the week, accompanied by collected artefacts from the performance. Some of the participants include refugees who were forced to flee Ukraine amidst Russia's ongoing invasion of the region.

A press release from Deitch's website reads, "Putin's Ashes was initiated in August 2022 when Pussy Riot burned a 10 x 10 foot portrait of the Russian president, performed rituals and cast spells aimed to chase Putin away. Twelve women participated in the performance. In order to join, women were required to experience acute hatred and resentment toward the Russian president. Most of the participants were either Ukrainian, Belarusian or Russian."

‘Pussy Riot: Putin’s Ashes’ will be on view at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, in Los Angeles, California, from January 27 - February 3 2023.