Liora Epstein (b. 1991, Vilnius) lives and works in Cologne. Her family, with Jewish-Tatar roots, came to Germany as contingent refugees. She studied Fashion and Communication at the Design Department Düsseldorf, then continued at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf — first under Prof. Tomma Abts, later as Master Student (Meisterschülerin) under Prof. Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, graduating in 2023.
At the centre of her practice is the Tagebuch der bösen Taten (diary of bad deeds), an ongoing self-archiving project begun in 2018 across hand-bound books and video performances, in which a custom-made prayer glove (Bet-Handschuh) turns private transgression into a public, almost sculptural gesture. Epstein works with gaps rather than reconstruction, letting omission, displacement, and contradiction stand rather than assembling a complete history. Her work returns to cultural transmission and loss, identity as a claim rather than a given, and diaspora’s restricted access to its own sources.
In 2024, the Kunstmuseum Krefeld presented her first institutional solo exhibition, Collection Satellite #9. The Bar, in dialogue with Jürgen Drescher and Reinhard Mucha, curated by Dr. Magdalena Holzhey and Dr. Sylvia Martin. Her work is held in the collection of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld, and in 2026 she was awarded the AUFTAKT scholarship from the Kunststiftung NRW.
With AUFTAKT, her current project, why does white paper turn yellow?, moves from research into production from autumn 2026, translating fragments of her Tatar family history into a speculative counter-archive increasingly materialised in glass, porcelain, and textile.
2014–2023 Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (Academy Diploma/Certificate), Fine Arts — with Prof. Tomma Abts (until 2021) and Prof. Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster (2021–2023); Master Student (Meisterschülerin) 2022
2010–2014 Design Department Düsseldorf (BA), Fashion and Communication
2026 AUFTAKT, Research Scholarship from Kunststiftung NRW
2024 Promotional Prize for Fine Arts, NRW (Short List)
2024 Provinzial Art Scholarship (Award Winner)
2023 Promotional Prize for Fine Arts, NRW (Short List)
2022 Scholarship from the Friedrich Schneider Foundation, Germany
2022 Travel Grant from the Düsseldorf Cultural Office to Ein Hod, Israel
2022 Travel Grant from the Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen
(Art Association for the Rhineland and Westphalia)
2022 Artist Scholarship NRW „Auf Geht’s“ (Let’s Go), Germany
2022 76th International Bergisches Art Prize, Solingen (Short List)
2021 NEUSTART KULTUR (Restart Culture), Scholarship from the MKW
(Ministry for Culture and Science)
2020 NEUSTART KULTUR (Restart Culture), Scholarship from the MKW
2019 Scholarship from the Dr. H.-W. Dildei Foundation, Oberursel (Short List)
collection
Kunstmuseen Krefeld (Krefeld Art Museums)
shows, selected
2025
Malkasten Düsseldorf: …ALLES GEHT…, Group Exhibition
Storage Museum Düsseldorf: I cannot put my finger on it, Group Exhibition
Pax Christi Krefeld: FORTUNA (to distribute well), Solo Exhibition
2024
Kunstmuseum Krefeld: Collection Satellite #9 The Bar. Liora Epstein in Dialogue with Jürgen Drescher and Reinhard Mucha, Solo Exhibition
Malkasten Düsseldorf: COUNTDOWN, Group Exhibition
Kunstverein Nürnberg (Nuremberg Art Association): Asking for a Friend, Group Exhibition
2023
MG16 Cologne: On Music, Group Exhibition
Malkasten Düsseldorf: ARTIST BOOKS LIVE!, Book Presentation
NKR Düsseldorf: OPENING HAPPENING, Group Exhibition
Galerie SITTart Düsseldorf: DRAWN, Group Exhibition
Contemporary Art Ruhr C.A.R. Essen: the hall of collaborations, Group Exhibition and Reading
2022
NRW-Forum Düsseldorf: Subversive Design, Group Exhibition
BLOOM Düsseldorf: BONDED, Group Exhibition
Kunstmuseum Solingen: 76th International Bergische Art Exhibition, Group Exhibition
2021
Goethe-Institut Germany and Milan: Art – Expanding the Concept!, Online Publication
Kunstverein für die Rheinlande u. Westfalen: half body half human @lavalounge, Group Exhibition
Teatro Out Off / Goethe-Institut Milan, Italy: Maestri. Incontriamoli! Joseph Beuys, Performance (livestreamed five-evening program marking the 100th anniversary of Joseph Beuys‘ birth)
BLOOM Düsseldorf: Distant Call, Duo Exhibition
Spoerl Fabric Düsseldorf: Showcase Presentation in the Courtyard, Group Exhibition
Asta Exhibition Space Kunstakademie Düsseldorf: Pandemic-compliant Exhibition Series, Group Exhibition
2020
Volksbühne Berlin: Mourning becomes Electra, action performed in the Crawling Suit
Weltkunstzimmer Düsseldorf: Anatol Actionist, action performed in the Crawling Suit
Experimental Video Art Exhibition Thailand: EVA 17, Group Exhibition
2019
McKinsey Sky Office Düsseldorf: Kunstakademie Düsseldorf @ McKinsey & Company #7, Group Exhibition
Kreishaus Gummersbach: Art Exchange (Kunstbörse), Group Exhibition
2018
Experimental Video Art Exhibition Thailand: EVA 16, Group Exhibition
Gold und Beton Köln: Stille Post (Pass it on), Group Exhibition
2017
Museum KIT Düsseldorf: Trust (Vertrauen), Group Exhibition
projects
Sensitization Workshop on Antisemitism in cooperation with Leon Kahane and Fabian Bechtle, Art Collection NRW (2025)
Draping and Cutting Development Workshop as part of the project Working Textiles, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (2023)
Lecture Series About Places as part of the Space for Solidarity project, Art Collection NRW (2022)
Costume Design for the show Runners by the Hippana/Maleta Company, Shows internationally (2021)
Performance Workshop Deciphering and Decontextualization of Gestures, Justus Liebig University Giessen (2019)
Residency with the performance group UNANIM, Quartier am Hafen Cologne (2018)
Interdisciplinary Costume and Performance Project Lophophie, Thomas School Düsseldorf, OGS Vennhauser-Allee Düsseldorf, GGS Deutzer Straße Düsseldorf (2018)
Travels through South America (2016-17)
Costume Design for the dance performance She wanted to know which Maid of Marie Antoinette’s she was, Kunstraum Düsseldorf (2014)
press, selected
2025
Report and audio. Pax Christ Krefeld: Liora Epstein will das Glück gleichmäßig verteilen
2024
Podcast episode. Die Leichtigkeit der Kunst: Die Bar in den Kunstmuseen Krefeld
Publication. Collection Satellit #9
Publication. presseportal.de: Provinzial vergibt sechstes Kunst-Stipendium
2022
Report. Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen: Reise-Stipendium 2022
2019
Publication. McKinsey & Company, Inc.: #7 – Kunstakademie Düsseldorf @ McKinsey & Company