A R T S T A M P . D K

Iv Toshain is an Austrian artist, born in 1980 in Sofia behind the Iron Curtain, whose work explores the transition between interior and exterior realities, and the fluidity between form and content. Influenced by her childhood in Iraq and Libya, her art blends installation, sculpture, painting, performance, and activism. Central to her work are symbols like stars, blades, weapons, and slogans, which challenge conventional boundaries and highlight the connections between body and mind.

Toshain's art also reflects her personal history, including an injury during the Iraq/Iran war, which informs her raw, symbolic visual language. Her notable works, like the Nomos Basileus sculpture exhibited at Belvedere and Lentos Museums, engage with themes of law, violence, and power. The 2021 Nullity is the Only Revolt installation at the Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi and her 2024 site-specific installation at Rocca Paolina in Perugia use sharp materials to address global political struggles.

Toshain co-founded the collective FXXXi̶s̶m̶ TC with Anna Ceeh, which critically examines ideologies and institutionalized power. Her work continues to provoke thought, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable political truths.