home page
PUPPY’S PLAY AND PUNISHMENT AT BELOW GRAND, 2026
Below Grand is pleased to present Puppy’s Play and Punishment, a solo exhibition of new installation, performance, and video work by Aika Akhmetova curated by Hannah Lutz Winkler.
Akhmetova transforms the smaller, interior gallery into a screening room for a multi-channel video installation, shot in peak summertime on Fire Island and now viewed in a cozy den outfitted with soft, welcoming furniture. We see Puppy get walked for the first time; we see Puppy whine amid a sunshower.
In the storefront window, viewers see a web-like mass of retractable leashes, dog collars, chains, upholstery foam, and found objects, many specific to the Post-Soviet region, or to the artist’s preferred site of globalized everyday material culture—the dollar store. Akhmetova will perform within this installation: tethering themself to it, bowing in it, flaunting a repository of Puppy’s movements.
YOU ARE HERE, GROUP SHOW AT FONDAZIONE ELPIS, 2024
Installation from the group show YOU ARE HERE in Milan, Italy. Curated by Dilda Ramazan and Aida Sulova. The exhibition presents the works of 27 contemporary artists born in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, featuring a range of media including painting, video, sculpture, photography, textile, site-specific installation as well as performance. Artists: Munara Abdukakharova, Aïda Adilbek, Chyngyz Aidarov, Aika Akhmetova, Vyacheslav Akhunov, Said Atabekov, Medina Bazargali, Azadbek Bekchanov, Bakhyt Bubikanova, Ulan Djaparov, Saodat Ismailova, Anna Ivanova, Kasiet Jolchu, Daria Kim, Jazgul Madazimova, Yerbossyn Meldibekov, Gulnur Mukazhanova, Nurbol Nurakhmet, Rashid Nurekeyev, Qizlar, Marat Raiymkulov, Sonata Raiymkulova, Alexey Rumyantsev, Zhanel Shakhan, Temur Shardemetov, Ester Sheynfeld and Emil Tilekov.
Nomadic Pastoralism, 2024
Performative lecture at Bronx Museum as part of the closing event of The Sixth AIM Biennial and a 2 channel synchronized video TASKS, 2024 that was exhibited as part of the group show.
GROUP SHOW “HOMORIENTALISM”, SMACK MELLON, 2023
Sculptural works from the summer group show Homorientalism at Smack Mellon. Curated by Noor Bhangu. Artist: Damien Ajavon, Aika Akhmetova, Hector Canongel, Jin-Yong Choi, Banyi Huang, Maya Jeffereis, Jongbum Kim, Zahra Pars, Sa’dia Rehman.
RAGE FANTASIES, 2023
Site-specifc installation at Ortega Y Gasset Projects
wolves dont cry at GAMU, 2023
5-channel synchronized video installation, 5 flat screens, 5 headphones/audio channels
WOlves dont cry, 2021
5-channel synchronized video installation, 12:00 minutes. 4 CRT monitors, 1 flat screen, white shag carpet, 4 pedestals of various heights, dog training collar, stones.
traditionally unnurturing nurture, 2021
Solo exhibition of sculptures and multi-media objects at A.I.R. Gallery.
Sculpture, Installation, Video and performance
2023-2018