Penny Monogiou (1989), an artist born on the island of Cyprus, has established herself in the art world with her expressive, often twisted portraits and installations. Her works oscillate between political concerns, personal suffering and the search for identity. With deformed faces, such as oversized heads and distorted lips, she challenges traditional ideals of beauty. This inevitably forces the viewer to consider the question of individual and societal expectations.
Monogiou has exhibited internationally in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Germany and France. Her work is characterised by a dual influence from her Greek heritage and her engagement with classical icon painting. Beyond her paintings, Monogiou’s installations are notable for their incorporation of social critique, frequently drawing inspiration from her childhood experiences on the divided island of Cyprus. She is also actively involved in collective initiatives that aim to raise awareness of social stigmas and promote compassion, such as the Compassion Creative Collective, which she founded in 2014.
Since 2013 she lives and works in Hamburg, Germany.
education
2013-2014
DE | Animation School Hamburg (Diploma 3D-2D Artist)
2007-2012
GR | University of Fine Arts Athens (Bachelor & Master of Arts)
2006-2007
CY | Cambridge International Examinations (GCE Advanced Level in Art)
2005-2006
CY | Cambridge International Examinations (GCE Ordinary Level in Art)
exhibitions solo/duo (selection)
2025
DE | Still Leben! | Galerie Gemüse Hamburg | curated by Dr. Anne Simone Kiesiel (upcoming)
2024
DE | Untitled (mothers!) | Kunst im Quartier with Laure Boer
2023
DE | Macht hinter der Macht | Unikat XVI a collaboration with Spiegelberg Stiftung Galerie Renate Kammer
DE | Macht hinter der Macht | Artist Talk Bucerius Kunstforum
DE | Dulde, mein Stein | Feinkunst Krüger Galerie|with Isabell Kamp and Sylvie Ringe
2022
DE | Arch & Pillar is She | Archiv Massiv Baumwollspinnerei Leipzig curated by Yianna Tsolaki
DE | Karyatiden | [ in the box ] | Künstlerhaus Sootbörn
2021
DE | Mercy, mery me | Raum für Schönes
2018
CY | Ideale | Beat Pazaar | Limassol
2016
DE | Chimera | Greskewitz Kleinitz Galerie
2011
GR | Exile | Kaplanon5 Galerie
exhibitions group (selection)
2025
GR | Athens | Michael Cacoyannis Foundation | with Lucas Betz (LuPe)
2024
GR | Modern Fiction | Tompazis Mansion, Hydra | with Lucas Betz (LuPe)
DE | Modern Fiction | Fabrik der Künste | with Lucas Betz (LuPe)
2023
DE | Wintersalon | Shower Galerie
CY | Three Layers of Skin | Limassol Municipal Arts Center
2022
DE | Kolonialismus und seine Folgen | Focke Museum
DE | stay.strong.resilient | Kunsthaus Hamburg | with Lucas Betz (LuPe)
2021
TUR | When humanity becomes a poem | Greek Consulate Istanbul
DE | More than Champagne | Galerie Renate Kammer
DE | PArt Benefizauktion | in collaboration with Van Ham
GR | Art Athina Virtual | Peritechnon Karteris Galler
DE | Residency und Ausstellung | Stilwerk
GR | 200 Greek Revolution | Michalis Kakoyannis Foundation
GR | The visualization of a Revolution | Athens War Museum
2020
DE | Umformung | Evelyn Drewes Galerie
DE | Paperwork from the 70’s till today | Renate Kammer Galerie
DE | Nachts allein im Atelier #7 | Evelyn Drewes Galerie
DE | PArt Platform|Spiegelberger Stiftung
DE | PArt Benefizauktion | in collaboration with Van Ham Aktionshaus
CY | Architectural Identities / The Berengaria Project | ARTosFoundation
DE | Return Codes | Kunsthaus Hamburg
DE | heilig | xpon-art Galerie
2019
DE | Water Event mit Yoko Ono | MdbK Leipzig
DE | Millerntor Galerie #9 | Millerntor Stadion
DE | POSITION. Forum/Ausstellung 2019 | Fabrik der Künste
DE | ART OFF HAMBURG | Westwerk Hamburg
CY | The Berengaria Project | Limassol Municipal Arts Center
CY | The Berengaria Project | Artnaldas Nicosia
DE | IN DA WOOD II |Gängeviertel
GR | Frieze of Parthenon | Teloglion Foundation of Arts Thessaloniki
DE | besetzen | xpon-art Galerie
2018
GR | 7 | Stoart Korai Athens
DE | Leipzig in Hamburg | Greskewitz Kleinitz Galerie
DE | All you can’t eat | LIA Spring Group Show Frühjahrsrundgang Spinnerei Leipzig
2017
CY | Reference to Aphrodite | European Capital of Culture Pafos 2017
DE | Kleine Format|Atelierhaus Breite Strasse
GR | Keras tis Amaltheias|The art in a grocery
GR | Oktana | Purple Squirrel Publications
GR | Gallery walks | As a side-bar to Documenta 14
DE | Strange Kiss | Atelierausstellung
2016
GR | Odysseus Elytis. The poet of the Aegean | Mandoulides Schools
GR | The waiting room – Compassion Collective | ART ATHINA 2016
2015
DE | Compassion on the phenomenology of being ill | Kunstquartier Bethanien Berlin
TUR | George Vizyinos. Towards the town | Mandoulides Schools Istanbul
DE | Tropical Island | Kunstverein Süptitzvilla e.V.
2014
DE | Gotham city | Ateliers in der Speicherstadt
CY | Anasistasi | En tipois Cultural Center,Nicosia
2013
GR | Re-Culture | Argiris Market Patra
FR | Art en Capital | Grand Palais Paris
2012
GR | LAVARA | Michalis Kakoyiannis Foundation
GR | Graduates of Athens University of Fine Arts
GR | Memories and Realities | Florina Museum of Modern Art
GR | Art-walks | Municipal Gallery of Lamia
GR | 12 young artists | Melina Merkouri Foundation
2011
GR | Sommer of young artists | Kaplanon5 Gallery
GR | On the poetry of Odysseus Elytis | House of Cyprus
GR | Stops and Stations | Train at Rouf
GR | Diaries of the fire | House of Cyprus
GR | 6th Student Biennale | MIET
2010
GR | Exile | House of Cyprus
residencies / scholarships
2024
GR | Tombazis Mansion | Department of University of Fine Arts Athens on Hydra Island | residency
2020
DE | Dorit & Alexander Otto Stiftung | Kunst kennt keinen Shutdown | scholarship
2018
DE | LIA Leipzig | Baumwollspinnerei | residency
awards
2023
DE | Jahresgaben of the Lichtwark Gesellshaft e.V. for the year 2023
2022
DE | Unikat XVI of the Spiegelberg Foundation for the year 2022
2018
CY | Municipal Gallery | Limassol Cyprus | part of the permanent collection
2012
GR | Eleftherios Venizelos Airport | Athens Greece | part of the permanent collection
2011
GR | Student Biennale of Greece | 1st winner
catalogues, articles, publications, short film
2023
CY | Three Layers of Skin | Limassol Municipal Arts Center|exhibition catalogue
DE | Unikat XVI | Spiegelberg Stiftung |publication
DE | NDR | Penny Monogiou: Griechin begeistert die Hamburger Kunstszene|article
2022
DE | Karyatiden| [ in the box ] | exhibition catalogue
DE | Augen auf!: Kolonialismus und seine Folgen in Bremen | Focke Museum | exhibition catalogue
DE | Arch & Pillar is She | Archiv Massiv Bauwollspinnerei | exhibition catalogue
2021
DE | More than Champagne | Galerie Renate Kammer | exhibition catalogue
DE | Penny Monogiou | Open Studio | short film
DE | Mrs. City | Art made in HH | interview
2020
DE | Hamburger Abendblatt | Kunst gucken- und danach Kunst kaufen | article
2019
CY | The Berengaria Project | Limassol Municipal Arts Center | exhibition catalogue
DE | POSITION. Forum/Ausstellung 2019 | exhibition catalogue
CY | philenews | Penny Monogiou – Ideale |article
2017
DE | Strange Kiss | Atelierausstellung | exhibition catalogue
2016
DE | Szene Hamburg | Chimera: Penny Monogiou | Interview
2014
CY | Anasistasi | exhibition catalogue