Boris Petrovsky Germany, b. 1967

Biography
Frank Vinken / Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst, Unna
Frank Vinken / Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst, Unna

Boris Petrovsky (b. 1967, Konstanz) is a German artist working at the intersection of installation, light, media, and sculptural systems. His practice is deeply informed by site-specificity, often engaging architecturally and historically charged spaces — from churches to industrial complexes — to create immersive, spatially responsive environments. He has held major institutional exhibitions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and his work appears regularly in international media-art and light-art contexts.

 

Major Solo & Duo Exhibitions (Selection)

  • 2025 – “TURBATORY”, Kunstmuseum Singen

  • 2022 – “Buzzerworld”, Kunstmuseum Engen

  • 2018 – “Total Recourse – Im Lauf der Dinge”, former Telefunken Testing Facility, Konstanz

  • 2017 – “Ouroboros”, Johanniterkirche, Feldkirch (AT)

  • 2015 – “Alfa Beta Meta – Die gläserne Fabrik”, Turm zur Katz, Konstanz

  • 2014 – “YOU&ME-isms / Part II”, ZKM | Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe

  • 2013 – “YOU&ME-isms / Part I”, ZKM | Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe

  • 2012 – “The Global Pursuit of Happiness / Army of Luck”, One-Artist Show, Art Karlsruhe (via Galerie Abtart)

  • 2011 – “YOU&ME-isms. Was weiss ich!”, Kunstraum Kreuzlingen (CH) & Kulturzentrum Konstanz

These exhibitions reflect his recurring exploration of industrial halls, medieval towers, decommissioned factories, and sacral architecture, which serve as active components of the work.

Significant Group Exhibitions (Selection)

  • 2024/25 – Shine & Reflect / Lichtkunstbahnhof Celle, Kunstmuseum Celle / Sammlung Robert Simon

  • 2023 – Vision & Passion, MAC | Südwestdeutsche Kunststiftung Singen

  • 2021 – Canal Connect, Teatros del Canal, Madrid

  • 2021 – SIGNAL Festival, via Goethe-Institut Prague (CZ)

  • 2018 – Objekt. Plastik. Skulptur, Kunstmuseum Singen

  • 2016 – Aufstiege Light Art Festival, Stuttgart/Sindelfingen

  • 2015 – Micro Macro, Media Art Exhibition, Martigues (FR)

  • 2014 – Ars Electronica, Cyberarts Exhibition, Linz (AT)

  • 2014 – DEAF — Dutch Electronic Art Festival, Rotterdam (NL)

  • 2014 – Unpainted Media Art Fair, Munich

  • 2013 – Words Don't Come Easily, Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst, Unna

  • 2013 – Schriftfilme, Museum für Neue Kunst / ZKM Karlsruhe

  • 2010 & 2014 – Prix Ars Electronica Honorary Mentions + exhibitions, Linz (AT)

 

Collections & Awards (Selection)

  • Collections: ZKM Karlsruhe, Kunstmuseum Celle, Kunstmuseum Singen, Wessenberg-Galerie Konstanz, PHTG Kreuzlingen, Ketterer-Ertle Collection (Bern)

  • Awards: Prix Ars Electronica Honorary Mention (2010 & 2014), multiple public art commissions including German National Library Leipzig (2012)

Works
  • Boris Petrovsky, Cluster 2_2020, 2020
    Cluster 2_2020, 2020
  • Boris Petrovsky, iLiquid, 2008/2024
    iLiquid, 2008/2024
Exhibitions
Bibliography

  • 2022 – Macht! Licht! / Power! Light, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, ed. Andreas Beitin, Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, pp. 176–177
    Major institutional publication on light art in Germany.

  • 2022 – Faszination Licht, Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst Unna, ed. John Jaspers
    Key reference volume from the world’s leading light-art institution.

  • 2022 – Buzzerword Buzzerworld, exhibition catalogue with texts, Kunstmuseum Engen
    Comprehensive monograph accompanying Petrovsky’s institutional solo show.

  • 2016 – Kümmel-Schnur, Albert: “Boris Petrovsky”, in Künstler. Kritisches Lexikon der Gegenwartskunst (KLKG), Issue 114
    A significant scholarly entry in one of the major German critical artist lexicons.

  • 2015 – Otto, Julia: “Boris Petrovsky”, in Scheinwerfer. Lichtkunst in Deutschland im 21. Jahrhundert, Kerber Verlag, pp. 154–155
    Standard reference book on German light art.

  • 2014 – Cyberarts 2014. International Compendium – Prix Ars Electronica, Hatje Cantz, pp. 56, 72–73
    Featuring Petrovsky’s work within the world’s most important media-art award publication.

  • 2013 – Bright! Typography Between Illustration and Art, DAAB Verlag, pp. 368, 369, 415
    International compendium placing Petrovsky within the broader field of experimental typography and visual systems.

  • 2013 – Krämer, Torsten: “Die Funktion der Farbe – Petrovsky”, in Farbe, Wahrnehmung, Konzepte, Wirkung, Klett Verlag, pp. 64–69
    Academic contextualization of his color systems within visual theory education.

  • 2013 – Boris Petrovsky. Arbeiten 2005–2013, Galerie Abtart
    Extensive early-career monograph.

  • 2012 – 16th Japan Media Arts Festival, CG-Arts Tokyo, pp. 55, 216, 219
    International media-art reference featuring The Global Pursuit of Happiness.

  • 2012 – Osterwold, Tilman & Gabriele: Power Flower. Blütenzauber in der zeitgenössischen Kunst, Galerie Abtart
    Includes critical reflections on Petrovsky’s work within the context of contemporary visual culture.

  • 2010 – Cyberarts 2010. International Compendium – Prix Ars Electronica, Hatje Cantz, pp. 165–166, 205–207
    Documentation of his Honorary Mention in Interactive Art — a central publication in digital art history.