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Geneva Arystan

Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 1998
Lives and works in London, United Kingdom

Drawing from her nomadic Kazakh heritage, Geneva Arystan creates intricate, jewel-like works that bridge the physical and spiritual realms while reflecting on ancestral memory. Rooted in modern mysticism and echoes of Tengri shamanism, her practice explores spirit worlds, both real and imagined.

Her canvases are anchored by geometric crystal formations, chosen for their energetic healing qualities. Here, Arystan proposes a philosophy of spiritual inquiry, in which the crystals serve as her material, medium, and muse. By incorporating minerals such as raw opal and transparent quartz, she adds a tactile dimension to the canvas, transforming her works into gateways that explore the intersection of myth and the metaphysical.

Guided by the concept of vibrational frequencies, Arystan's palette is highly intentional, utilising soft, ethereal tones paired with accents of silver and pearl. She takes a meticulous, layered approach to her surfaces, working primarily on linen and wood, and applying pigments and reflective fragments to refract light in shifting patterns. The resulting mixed-media works invite reflection, balanced between sacred symbolism and light.

With a background in poetry, Arystan crafts titles that serve as mantras, weaving together personal memories drawn from her time in California and Kazakhstan. Each work evolves spontaneously, as the artist's intuitive practice materialises the unseen, transforming energy into form.


2026 – City Literary Institute, London Contemporary Fine Art

Education

2021 – Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles MFA Creative Writing

2019 – Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London BA Culture, Criticism and Curation

2015 – École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Life Drawing, Paris

Selected Exhibitions

2026 – Pluralities, City Literary Institute, London

2026 – Web of Life, Kin Gallery, London

2023 – Three People Ago Performance, Aurora Gallery, Almaty

2022 – Three People Ago Solo Exhibition, Allgorithim Gallery, Los Angeles

2022 – Tarot Poetry and Performance, Los Angeles

2019 – BA Culture, Criticism and Curation Degree Show, Central Saint Martins, London

Selected Talks & Readings

2026 – Crossing Bridges - Poetry After Hours, WatchHouse, London

2025 – Emerging Poets Panel, Cheltenham Literary Festival

2025 – Secrets and Confessions Poetry Night, Gothic Bar, London

2021 – Visiting Writer Series, Otis College of Art and Design

2021 – MFA Group Reading, Skylight Books, Los Angeles

Awards

2021 – Board of Governors Award, Otis College of Art and Design

2019 – Otis Presidential Merit Art Scholarship


Press