Biography
ANNA KRENZ is an artist and researcher working at the intersection of urban space, memory, ecology and material practices. Her practice is research-driven and combines drawing and spatial installations with architectural thinking, feminist perspectives and historical narratives.
She studied architecture at the Poznań University of Technology and completed her Master’s degree in Energy, Environment and Sustainable Design at the Architectural Association in London. Her interdisciplinary background informs a practice that moves between art, architecture and research, addressing cities as palimpsests shaped by social conflict, ecological transformation and collective memory.
Krenz works with a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, installation, performance, video and graphic narration, often using irony and subtle humour as critical tools. Her works have been presented in solo and group exhibitions internationally, and her illustrations and graphic works have been published in print and digital media.
Since 2000, she has been a member of the interdisciplinary women’s studio Sinus_3, focusing on architecture, ecology and public space through artistic and performative formats. Since 2001, she has collaborated with the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy (Denmark) on projects at the intersection of renewable energy, spatial communication and visual storytelling.
Between 2003 and 2012, Krenz co-directed ZERO Gallery in Berlin, initiating and curating over 100 exhibitions, concerts and experimental formats with international artists. From 2007 to 2009, she served as editor-in-chief of the design magazine VOX Design, and later re:design, contributing to critical discourse on design, architecture and social responsibility.
Alongside her artistic and research practice, Krenz has initiated and led various civic and feminist platforms, developing visual campaigns, performative actions and publications addressing questions of bodily autonomy, social justice and transnational solidarity.
She writes and lectures on urban theory, sustainable architecture, environmental responsibility, memory cultures and feminist perspectives. Since 2003, she has been based in Berlin.
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
2024 - Research Scholarschip / Colonialism and Poland / Pilecki Institute, Berlin
2024 - Ideas for Castle Appropriation / Winning entry / Initiative Schlossaneignung
2022 - Research scholarship / Fonds Darstellende Künste, Berlin
2022 - Research scholarship / Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa
2022 - Research Scholarship / The Foundation for Arts Initiatives, USA
2021 - Clara Zetkin–Frauenpreis / for Dziewuchy Berlin
2020 - Goldene Eulen Preis in Visual Arts / Jupiter Redaktion, Wien
2018 - Green Pussyhat Prize / for Dziewuchy Berlin
2008 - Project Scholarship / Polish Ministry of Culture, Warsaw
2005 - Project Scholarship from Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur, Förderung von Aktivitäten von Migrantinnen und Migranten in Berlin
2003 - Notable mention for the diploma (Poznań Techical University, Dept. of Architecture) / Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, Warsaw
2003 - Scholarship / 3. Trimester, Bauhaus Kolleg, Bauhaus Foundation, Dessau
2002 - Scholarship / Investigative Journalism Course, Maastricht University, Maastricht
2001 - First Prize / Architecture Film Competition, Lublin University of Technology, 2001 (Sinus_3)
2000 - 3. Prize / Euro Art Meeting, Wrocław 2000, European Urban Art Installation competition (Sinus_3)
MEMBERSHIPS:
Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Denmark (Advisory Board, 2024)
Ambasada Polek e.V. (Founder and chairwoman),
International Council of Polish Women+ (Initiator and member)
neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst (nGbK) (Member)
Berufsverband bildender künstler*innen - bbk berlin (Member)
Nasze Puszczykowo Association (Member)
Dziewuchy Berlin (Founder and member)
World Council for Renewable Energy - Solar City Task Force, Workgroup coordinator, 2002
OSSA – Ogólnopolskie Stowarzyszenie Studentów Architektury, Co-founder, 1998
SOLO EXHIBITIONS | choice:
2023 “Sisters in Arms”, Halfsister, Berlin
2022 "Botschaft der Polinnen*", Kongres Kobiet, Wrocław, Poland
2022 "Botschaft der Polinnen*", Dziewuchy Berlin Siostry*Preis, Haus der Statistik, Berlin
2020 "Botschaft der Polinnen*", Haus der Statistik, Berlin
2017 “Tausend und ein Wort. Polnische Protestkunst in Berlin”, Galerie Schau Fenster, Berlin
2017 “Santa Barbara”, Polenbegeisterungswelle Festival, Berlin
2008 „Monkeys and Saints”, Gallery Myymälä2, Helsinki, Finland
2007 “Achtung! Achtung!” BWA Wroclaw, BWA Galleries of Contemporary Art, Wrocław, Poland
2006 “Medi@cus”, Phoenicia Center for Contemporary Art, Rosemary, Second Life
2006 “Polish Wife", Interrelation SHOP, Kulturhaus Spandau, Berlin
2005 „Kury“, Galerie DLA, Toruń, Poland
2005 „Polnische Frau“, FIRANKA, Berlin
2005 „Deutscher Mann“, Galerie ZERO, Berlin
2005 „1000 Wörter“, Waschmaschinewsky, Berlin
2005 „Siedmiu Wspaniałych“, ON Galerie, Poznań, Poland
2004 „Polish Wife“, TERrA Polska Festival, Galerie ZERO, Berlin
2004 „Polish Wife“, Collegium Polonicum, Slubice
2004 „No words“, Berliner Zeitung, Berlin
2004 „Polnische Frau“, 4th International Literature Festival, Polish Cultural Institute, Berlin
2003 Sinus_3 - Projekte, Photographie, Galerie ZERO, Berlin
2002 Sinus_3 - Projects, Piwnica 21 Gallery, Poznań
2002 Sinus_3 - Projekte, Photographie, SARP Galerie, Poznań, Poland
1988 „I am not bored…” Bilder, Puppen, MDK „Pod Lipami”, Poznań, Poland
GROUP EXHIBITIONS | choice:
2025 "City of Women", Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw >>>
2025 "15 Jahre Schau Fenster", Galerie Schau Fenster, Berlin
2025 "Harowaczki", Dom Norymberski, Kraków, Poland | Catalogue (Pl De) >>>
2024 “Traces of Solidarity”, Galerie Grolman, Berlin, Germany
2024 “Freiheit, Gleichheit, Solidarność”, Freifläche, im Berlin Global Ausstellung, Humboldtforum, Berlin, Germany
2024 “Frauen im Schatten der Guillotine. Polinnen hingerichtet in Plötzensee”, Regenbogenfabrik, Berlin, Germany
2023 “NENIA”, Rusałka Festival, Barak Kultury, Poznań, Poland
2022 “BlasFEMINISTKI”, Dom Norymberski, Kraków, Poland (catalogue)
2022 „Dom Wandy”, Puszczykowo, Poland
2022 „Fahlende Hälfte der Geschichte. Irena Bobowska, die Vergessene Heldin”, Regenbogenfabrik; Volkspark Friedrichshain; Kulturkirche Nikodemus; Friedhof Aliglienicke, Berlin, Germany
2020 „TOYS2“, Galeria ZPAP, Toruń, Poland
2020 "Nigdy nie będziesz szła sama", Galeria Labirynt, Lublin, Poland | Virtual guide >>>
2019 „Femfest”, Essen, Germany
2019 "Bewegende Zeiten", ZK/U Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, Berlin, Germany
2019 "Die Hälfte der Welt gehört uns!”, curator: Anke Therese Schulz, MA, PhD, alpha nova & galerie futura, Berlin >>>
2019 „Da Capo al Fine” / „LABIRYNT. Festiwal Nowej Sztuki”, Frankfurt / Słubice (catalogue)
2019 „100 flag na 100lecie uzyskania praw wyborczych przez Polki”, Centralne Muzeum Włókiennictwa / Central Museum of Textiles, Łódź
2019 "Sto flag na stulecie uzyskania praw wyborczych przez kobiety”, Biuro Wystaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście 16/18 lok. 4, Warsaw
2018 "Marsz 100 Flag", Happening, Warsaw, 24.11.2018, Poland
2018 „Decydentki”, Dom Norymberski, Kraków, Poland (catalogue)
2017 „Artist as Curator Vol. 7”, Galerie Schau Fenster, Berlin, Germany
2013 "Architektura - Zapis Idei", National Museum in Poznań, (catalogue), Poland
2011 “Recycling the Iron Curtain”. 30 bildende Künstler:innen aus Polen zeigen ihre Positionen, Kühlhaus, Berlin, Germany
2010 „Polish Wife“, Shoot-me Festival, Den Haag
2009 „Mit Mitologia Mitomania. O współczesnych pojęciach mitu”, IV Spotkania Artystyczne ASPEKTY, Galeria Promocji Młodych, Łódź, Poland
2009 „Hożarty Festival”, Kawangarda, Warszawa, Poland
2009 „Sweet in Art”, Galeria Sztuki, Legnica, Poland
2009 „Indigo Girls” (at Edmund Pipers Project „Circus Maximus”), Berlin Preview, Berlin, Germany
2009 „Szczyt Bohaterów”, Bunkier Sztuki, Kraków, Poland
2009 „A mury runą. Solidarność i estetyka rewolucji”, Senatsreservenspeicher, Berlin, Germany
2008 Joint Custody Project (curated by Found Gallery, LA), Raab Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2008 "This World is not my Home", Tacheles Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2008 „MANIPULACJA? prowokacja”, Festiwal Sztuki Niezależnej Re:Wizje, UFA, Warszawa, Poland
2008 „Anonyme Zeichner”, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/ Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
2008 „Wielkie Żarcie“, Galeria Artystów Zaangażowanych GAZ, Łódź, Poland
2008 Manual CC -- Projektraum Uqbar, Berlin, Germany
2008 Manual CC -- CSW Zamek Ujazdowski, Warszawa, Poland
2008 HackFemEast, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/ Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
2008 Kunstinvasion, Blumengrossmarkt/Berliner Kunsthalle, Berlin, Germany
2007 Transmediale07, Berlin, Germany
2007 „KaDeOs“, Kunsthaus Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
2007 1. Internationale Push-Art Berlin“ (Patin: Tanja Dückers), Volksbühne, Berlin, Germany
2007 „Reticulum“, Video Screening in Sibiu, Rumania
2007 Manual CC – Galeria Kronika, Bytom, Poland
2006 „Welcome to the Media!“, Krolikarnia, National Museum, Warszawa, Poland
2006 „Nie lekajcie sie!“, Private apartments, Warszawa, Poland
2006 Paraflows Festival, Vienna, Austria
2006 „Architektura intymna, architektura porzucona”, Galeria Kronika, Bytom, Poland
2006 3. Berliner Kunstsalon, Berlin, Germany
2005 „The same procedure as every year“ -- Slubfurt e.V., Frankfurt (Oder)
2005 „USUK”, Lab Gallery, New York, USA
2005 „Use me” – Gallery ZERO art interchange, Galeria ZERO, Barcelona, Italy
2005 „Sztuka kobiet, kobieta w sztuce“, Składnica Sztuk, Olsztyn, Poland
2005 „Galerie ZERO presents...”, Studio BWA, Wroclaw Non Stop Festival, Wroclaw, Poland
2005 „Keiner Entkommt”, Gesicht der Zeit, Internationales Forum, Berlin, Germany
2005 „Fokus Szymborska”, Insel Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2005 „Positionen”, Teatr 77, Łódź, Poland
2005 „One step forward, two steps back”, The Club, Yerevan, Armenia
2005 „Czy ja to płeć?”, Progressteron Festival, Górnosląskie Centrum Kultury, Katowice, Poland
2005 „Wyobraźnia Ekranu” Festival, UMK, Toruń, Poland
2005 Supermarket Sztuki V, 1st Biennial of Young European Art, Galeria Program, Galeria DAP, Warszawa, Poland
2005 „Uwaga! Polen kommen!” Festival, Galerie Schubertstraße, Weimar, Germany
2004 1. Berliner Kunstsalon, Berlin, Germany
2004 „The same procedure as every year“ – Klub der Polnischen Versager, Berlin, Germany
2004 D.O.G. Game – compact/space Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2003 “Unexpected Geometry” – Changing Channels, London Biennale Pollinations, Berlin, Germany
2003 “Intimacy – Architecture on Video”, Florenz, Italy
2002 Lodging London, “Un-Private House”, MACBA, Barcelona, Spain
2002 “Beyond Media – Architecture on Video” Festival, Florenz, Italy
2000 8th Biennale of Architecture, Kraków, Poland
2000 Euro Art Meeting, European Urban Art Installation, Wrocław, Poland
2000 ‘City of the Third Millennium’, Venice Biennale of Architecture, Italian Pavilion, Venice
1998 7th International Biennale of Architecture, Art Bunker Gallery, Kraków, Poland
PERFORMANCE | choice
“Sisters in Arms”, Halfsister, Berlin, July 2023
“Global Scream” - International Women's Day, Berlin, 8.3.2023 | more >>>
“Empört euch!”, International Women's Day, Dziewuchy Berlin, 8.3.2022
“Wir sind Widerstand!”, International Women's Day, Dziewuchy Berlin, 8.3.2021
RE:Kreacja / Mediations Biennale Polska, Mosina, Poland, 2020
"VOICES", Brandenburger Tor, Dziewuchy Berlin, 28.9.2020
"Dziady / All Saints", Volkspark Friedrichshain, Dziewuchy Berlin, 1.11.2020
“Global Scream” - International Women's Day, Berlin, worldwide, 8.3.2019 | more >>>
“Oko Prezesa” – politisches Happening, Berlin, January 2016
“Poetry Spam”, Transmediale08, Berlin, 2008
“Life of a woman”, Polish Cultural Institute, Leipzig, 2006
“Dreams”, Kulturhaus Spandau, Berlin, 2006
“zerorezero” – happening during the opening of ZERO Gallery, Berlin, May 2003
“Unexpected Geometry” (Sinus_3) happening during 9th Biennale of Architecture, Kraków, Poland, 2002
“Kerfent” (Sinus_3) video film show and performance, Piwnica21 Gallery, Poznań, Poland, 2002
“Creation of the World, backwards!” (Sinus_3), Euro Art Meeting, Wrocław, Poland, 2000
“Sound Creation of Space” (Sinus_3), ‘Warsztat Architekta’, Warszawa, Poland, 2000
“Concrete Side of the World” (Sinus_3), Plac Wolności, Poznań, Poland, 2000