This website includes two parts:

DARJA POPOLITOVA part features contemporary art jewellery, sculptures, installations and videos suitable for art collecting or display in museums and art galleries.

Darja Popolitova is a contemporary jewellery artist, lecturer and PhD researcher at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She was born in 1989 in Sillamäe and is currently based in Tallinn. Popolitova’s creative process is driven by an ironic view of nowadays, inspiring her to blend (digital) craft and video performances with fiction. She finds the tactile and symbolic nature of jewellery to be a generous medium that allows her to conceptualise ideas.

Popolitova is honoured with numerous awards and scholarships such as the Artist Salary (2022), the Annual Award of Estonian Cultural Endowment (2020), the EAA Research Publication Award (2020), the Adamson-Eric Scholarship (2018) and the Young Estonian Jewellery Award (2015). She took part in the shows at the Smack Mellon Gallery in New York (2022), the Arnhem Museum in the Netherlands (2020) and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York (2019).

ALMAZISTA is a spin-off brand grown from the artistic practice of Darja Popolitova. The brand focuses on experimentation with materials and technologies: laser engravings and 3D-printed distorted forms. For those who move through the world with magnetism, expressing themselves through form rather than noise. The keynote is irony — absurd treasures for adorning a body.

 

Contact   D.popolitova✔️gmail.com
Studio      Hobusepea 2, Tallinn, Estonia

CV

27.12.1989
Estonia

EDUCATION
2017—Estonian Academy of Arts, Art and Design, Tallinn, PhD, supervisors: Prof Kadri Mälk ✟, Prof Maarit Mäkelä, Dr Raivo Kelomees
2013—
2015		Estonian Academy of Arts, Jewellery and Blacksmithing, Tallinn, Prof Kadri Mälk, MA, cum laude
2012—
2013		Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava, Studio Metal and Jewellery Studio ‘S+M+L_XL’, Prof Karol Weisslechner, exchange study
2008—2012Estonian Academy of Arts, Glass Art and Design,
Tallinn, Prof Mare Saare, BA
2005—2008Narva Art School, art interest education
1996—2008Sillamäe Old Town School, secondary education
INTERNSHIP
2014Florian Ladstätter’s studio, Vienna
ART RESIDENCIES
2024Art residency in Grez-sur-Loing, France 

2018Adornment and Gender: Engaging Conversation,
developed with writer, curator and editor
Benjamin Lignel and Norwegian Crafts,
Oslo
MEMBERSHIP
2020Estonian Artists’ Association 
DUO SHOWS
2025Neanderthal Beauty Clinic, artists: Darja Popolitova and Madlen Hirtentreu, curator: Lilian Hiob, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn
SOLO SHOWS
2021Tactilite — Stone that Tickles the Gaze, Hobusepea Gallery, Tallinn
2020Magical Hotspot, Vent Space, Tallinn
2019iTouch Store, A-gallery’s Vault Room, Tallinn
2017Eros Loading, HOP Gallery, Tallinn
2011Touch, University of Tartu Narva College, Narva
GROUP SHOWS
2023 Remembering Kadri Mälk, Galerie Biro, Munich
Trigger, curators: Evelyn Raudsepp and Maria Helen Känd,
Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, Tallinn
Down the Rabbit Hole, curators: Justė Kostikovaitė,
Maija Rudovska and Merilin Talumaa,
MO Museum, Vilnius
Autumn Auction 2023, curator Lilian Hiob,
Vaal galerii, Tallinn 
Keeping Things in the Dark, EKA Gallery, Tallinn
Look at Me! Listen to Me!,
curator Julia Polujanenkova,
Tartu Art Museum, Tartu
Keeping Things in the Dark, Sillamäe Muuseum
Triquetra, curator Šelda Pukite, Kogo Gallery, Tartu 
2022Decolonial Ecologies, quad-installation Keeping Things in the Dark, curator Ieva Astahowska, Riga Art Space
Material Change: Design and New Technologies, curator Karin Vicente, Ice Age Centre, Tartu
(Fortune) Telling. (Zombie) Coding. (Gelatin) Catwalking, curators Zane Onckule and Elizaveta Shneyderman, Smack Mellon, New York 
Material Change: Design and New Technologies, curator Karin Vicente, Adamson-Eric, Tallinn
Spring Exhibition 2022, curator Siim Preiman, Tallinn Art Hall
New Year’s Resolution, curator Aleksander Metsamärt, Telegram
Women in Contemporary Estonian Design, curator Triin Jerlei, Museum Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn
Buckle Up, Door Gallery, Munich Jewellery Week, Munich 
2021Life in Decline, curator Francisco Martínez, Estonian Mining Museum, Kohtla-Nõmme
2020Proxy Saliva From a Ranked Souvenir, curator Nico Lillo, The Wrong Biennale
Can You Feel It?, curators Anne Vetik & Kai Lobjakas, London Design Week
15 Minutes With…, NYC Jewelry Week, New York
Digitally Yours, NYC Jewelry Week, New York
Handmade Hacking, Baltimore Jewelry Center 
The Anatomy of Estonian Art Jewellery 1953—2019, Tartu Art Museum
Body Control, Museum Arnhem
Next Door, Munich Jewellery Week, Munich
Ternion, Door Gallery, Nijmegen
2019Balticana, Hessel Museum of Art, CCS Bard Galleries, New York 
Non-Stick Nostalgia: Y2K Retrofuturism in Contemporary Jewelry, Museum of Arts and Design, New York
Everyone Says Hello, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo 
Fogspeak: 13 Jewellery Artist From Estonia in Riga, Putti Gallery
Door is Open, international art jewellery event Schmuck, Munich
Selected by Karin, Rene and Christian, international art jewellery event Schmuck, Munich
NEF-X, Amber Trip, Vilnius
2018X2 Selection Group, Beyond Gallery, Antwerp
METALLOphone Biennial, House of Signatories, Vilnius
Estonian Jewellery Through Centuries, Adamson-Eric Museum, Tallinn
Rocking Stones, Beyond Gallery, Antwerp
Schmuck, international art jewellery event, Munich
Fogspeak, Platina Gallery, Stockholm
NEF-X, Maarjamäe Palace, Tallinn
Dead Man’s Skis or How To Describe the Forest to Digital Rabbits, Tartu Art House, Estonia
2017Armour, Kiek in de Kök, Tallinn
Offset, Galerie Résidences, Paris
Enjoia’t, Contemporary Jewelry Awards, Disseny HUB Barcelona 
Dead Man’s Skis or How To Describe the Forest to Digital Rabbits, Vaal Gallery, Tallinn
2016Testament, duo exhibition with Kadri Mälk, Galerie Biró, Munich
Symptom, EAA Gallery, Tallinn
CATHEXIS, Melting Point 2016, Escuela superior de Arte y Diseño de Valencia
Estonishing! 13* from Estonia, Galeria Thomas Cohn, São Paulo
Estonishing! 13* from Estonia, Munich Jewellery Week, representing Thomas Cohn Gallery, Munich
Representing Marzee Gallery at Munich Jewellery Week, Munich
Talente 2016, Munich Jewellery Week, Munich
2015Winter Breath, Putti Gallery, Riga
Marzee Graduate Show 2015, Marzee Gallery, Nijmegen
Ferromenaalne, Tallinn Art Hall Gallery, Tallinn
Virvatuled, Estonian Museum Of Applied Art And Design, Tallinn 
CURATION
2023Let’s Get Phygital, collaborative project between Estonian Academy of Arts and London Colledge of Fashion and PXL-MAD, curating an exhibition and moderating a panel discussion, EKA, Tallinn 
Naturally, It Is Not, curating an exhibition together with Keiu Krikmann, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn
2022Let’s Get Phygital, collaborative project between Estonian Academy of Arts and London Colledge of Fashion, curating a student- exhibition, Studio D-40, Munich
2019How to Create a 3D Ring, workshop, KUMU, Tallinn
Digital Intimacy, organisation of a symposium, in collaboration with Current Obsession magazine, Munich
2018Fragments, workshop, Estonian Museum of Applied Arts, Tallinn
2017Offset, ehxibition dedicated to Estonian design, Galerie Résidences, Paris
2016Kafedra, curating exhibition of Jewellery and Blacksmithing department’s collection, Narva Art Residency, Narva
JOBS AND POSITIONS
2025—2026Project Manager and Guest Curator for the exhibition ‘Heritage of Aleksandr Popolitov: Dialogue in the Museum’, Sillamäe Museum
2024Project Manager of the Artists’ Club of Ida-Virumaa, organising, coordinating and guiding the mentorship programme and local artists within the artistic incubator, Narva Art Residency <severnojepoberezhje.ee> <nart.ee> <rus.postimees.ee> <jupiterpluss.err.ee> <nart.fb-post>

Supervisor of Karl Martin Kelder’s master’s thesis, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
2022Lecturer and teacher  in a collaborative project between Estonian Academy of Arts, London College of Fashion (LCF) and PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt

Supervisor of Ulrika Paemurru’s master’s thesis, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
2015—Guest Lecturer at Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
2016—2018Museum educator and guide at Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn
2013—2016Sketch Designer and Webstore Manager at Monquer [now Hyrv] company, Tallinn
2013—2015Drawing Teacher, Istituto di Moda Burgo Eesti Moekool, Tallinn
2011—2012Art Teacher, Centre for Hobbies and Youth ‘Ulei’, Sillamäe
DISCUSSIONS AND PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
2025Regular meetings with Professor Maarit Mäkelä from Aalto University to receive feedback on the first, second, and third chapters of my doctoral artistic research. Revisions and refinement of the text in accordance with the supervisor’s recommendations from September to February, Helsinki
2024Discussion within the exhibition Down the Rabbit Hole at MO Museum
in Vilnius together with Justė Kostikovaitė, Maija Rudovska, Merilin Talumaa,
Darja Popolitova and Anastasia Sosunova, moderated by Valentinas Klimašauskas
2023Probing the Digital. Cyborgs, Avatars, and AI,
the Institute of Contemporary Art, Architecture, and Design
at the Art Academy of Latvia (LMDA), Riga
<fold.lv> <hfg-offenbach.de> <spotify.com>
Festival of Poetry, orginiser Sveta Grigorjeva, Vaba Lava, Narva <eka.fb-event> 
2022Artistic Research Method You Haven’t Heard Of, artist lecture on Zoom, Rhode Island School of Design
PhD Vitamin, conference, Tallinn
Design conversation evening #4: Video Killed the Radio Star or What if Cybersmiths Killed Master Skills?,
Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
Star or What if Cybersmiths Killed Master Skills?, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn <eka.fb-event>
How to Shape Knowledge Through Art?, public lecture, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
2021Artificial Intelligems DREAMS + TALKS, Virtual symposium, organised by Anneleen Swillen
<artificial.intelligems.youtube> <artificialintelligems.com>
2020Conference of the Doctoral School, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
University pedagogy course, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
2019Jewelry of Tomorrow, symposium, Museum of Arts and Design, New York
<madmuseum.org>
2018Adornment and Gender: Engaging Conversation, conference, Oslo
The Body Political: Wearable Objects as Social Tools, Lauren Kalman’s workshop,
participant, KORU6, Imatra
2017Quality, symposium, Platina Gallery, Stockholm
2016Social Club #4, conversation evening, in collaboration with Current Obsession magazine,
Munich Jewellery Week, Munich
PechaKucha, ARS House, Tallinn <artun.ee>
Conference: Design Education 50. Wins and Losses, Tallinn
Selecting participants for the annual programme at EAA Gallery, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn
2015TEDx, conference, Tartu Ülikooli Narva kolledž, Narva <tartu.ülikooli.narva.kolledž.fb-event> <ted.com>
2014Lecture about EAA Jewellery and Blacksmithing Department, St. Petersburg Art and Industry Academy
WRITING PRACTICE
Heinsalu, Juss; Popolitova, Darja; Kosorotova, Sandra, 2022. Cones, Dust and Microscope — Artists on Tactility. Leida. <leida.artun.ee>
Popolitova, Darja. 2021. Luule. Müürileht, november, p. 3.
Popolitova, Darja, 2022. Tactilite — Stone that Tickles The Gaze, or the Confession of an Artwork. In: K. Krikmann, 2021. Aleksandr Popolitov. Sillamäe: Sillamäe Muuseum, pp. 52-67. 
Popolitova, Darja, 2019. Long Nails of Privilege. Current Obsession, 7, pp. 1-7. 
Hallik, Sofia; Popolitova, Darja, 2019. Digitally Produced Jewellery: Tactile Qualities of a Digital Touch. The Journal for Artistic Research.
Popolitova, Darja, 2015. Androgynous Jewelry, Autor Magazine, 3, pp. 17-19.
INTERVIEWS 
Heinsalu, Juss; Popolitova, Darja; Kosorotova, Sandra, 2022. Cones, Dust and Microscope — Artists on Tactility. Leida.
<leida>
Popolitova, Darja, 2022. Ehtekunstnik Darja Popolitova valu maailmas toimuva pärast: paljud „vene” inimesed ei sündinud Venemaal ega valinud Putinit presidendiks. Interviewed by Triin Tiisel. Naistekas.delfi.ee. <delfi.ee> 
Popolitova, Darja, 2021. Darja Popolitova: kes ei teeks oma sünnipäeval selfit?. Interviewed by Heinrich Sepp. Shorts.poff.ee. <poff.ee> 
Popolitova, Darja, 2021. Tactilite: Stone that Tickles the Gaze. Interviewed by Vica Gábor. Current Obsession.
<current-obsession.com>
Popolitova, Darja, 2021. Вскрыть всю липкость существования. Interviewed by Elnara Taidre. Arterritory.com.
<arterritory.com>
Popolitova, Darja, 2021. Dekadentlikule maitsele. Interviewed by Kaarin Kivirähk. Säde, suvi 2021, pp. 98-100.
Popolitova, Darja, 2021. Darja Popolitova: „Ehe vaatab maailma kultuuri silmadega“. Interviewed by Kaisa Tooming. Häppening.ee.
Popolitova, Darja, 2020. Suur lugu. „Kui pole ruumi, pole ka teoseid“ ehk kus töötavad kunstnikud Tallinnas ja Tartus?. Interviewed by Kaarin Kivirähk ja Marika Agu. Cca.ee.
<cca.ee>
Popolitova, Darja, 2020. I am the witch. Interviewed by Una Meistere. Arterritory.com.
<arterritory.com>
Popolitova, Darja, 2016. Uus Eesti Disain: Darja Popolitova. Interviewed by Mariliis Mõttus. Müürileht, 59, Dec. 2016, p. 28. 
Popolitova, Darja, 2016. Darja Popolitova. Interviewed by Kadri Karro. Eesti Ekspress, 20 Jan, 2016, p. 36.
Popolitova, Darja, 2016. Darja Popolitova: ehete taga on lugu. Interviewed by Mari-Liis Koemets. Yu Magazine, 3, pp. 33-39.
Hallik, Sofia; Popolitova, Darja, 2016. Kas ühe päästerõngaga ikka päästab kultuuri?, Interviewed by Reet Varblane. Sirp, 13 May 2016, p. 10.
Popolitova, Darja, 2015. Украшения как неслучайное творчество. Interviewed by Olesja Rotar.
Plug Online.
Popolitova, Darja, 2014. Creative Mind: Conceptual Jewelry. Interviewed by Camilla Franziska Bonne, Tallinn Arts, 2, pp. 74-79. 

Valme, Valner. 2024. „Päästikult“ väljudes on tunne nagu pärast festivali, kui välja arvata tervisekahjustused ja füüsiline väsimus. Eesti Ekspress. <ekspress.delfi.ee>
Tsapov, Aleksander. 2024. Kunstispurt: delulu võib olla solulu?. Müürileht. <muurileht.ee>
Mürk, Maarin. 2024. Puhasta oma meeled. Sirp. <sirp.ee>
Krikmann, Keiu. 2021. Kleepuva eksistentsi igapäevane maagia. Kunst.Ee, 2021(3), pp. 22-25.
Metsamärt, Aleksander. 2021. Meie igapäevane puutemaagia. Müürileht. <müürileht.ee>
Luhaäär, Merle, 2020. ‘I am a magnet for people. My life is exciting.’ From concept art to
conceptual art: jewellery, sexism, xenophobia and loneliness. Current Obsession.
Riggs, Kellie, 2021. A Post-Digital Prophecy Virtual Space and Jewellery. Current Obsession. pp. 6-9, 21. 
Riggs, Kellie, 2019. -White Cube / +White T-Shirt: Context Via Image and Today’s Cult Jewelers.
Metalsmith. 39/1, lk 45-46, 53. 
TV, RADIO AND PODCASTS
Žemžurov, Aleksandr; Privalova, Alina. 2024. Летний горизонт. ERR, ETV+, 16.07.2024, 00:00-05:58. <jupiter.ee.ee> 
Hobotov, Aleksandr. 2024. Летний горизонт. ERR, ETV+, 20:15-25:55. <etvpluss.err.ee> 
Kirejeva, Irina. 2024. Мельница. ERR, ETV+,08:45-22:15. <jupiterpluss.err.ee>
Zavadski, Jevgeni. 2024. Летний горизонт. ERR, ETV+, 16.07.2024, 26:40-32:49. <etvpluss.err.ee>
Žemžurov, Aleksandr; 2024. Художница Дарья Пополитова: на биеннале покажу украшения в стиле апсайклинг из старых телефонов. ERR, Raadio 4, 20.06.2024, 00:00-08:00. <r4.err.ee>
Popolitova, Darja. 2023. Värske Rõhk. Külas Darja Popolitova, Sofia-Elizaveta Katkova and Svetlana Štšur. IDA Raadio, 23.05. 00:00-1:00:45. <idaidaida.net> 
Sorgner, Stefan Lorenz; Ries, Marc; Popolitova, Darja. 2025. Probing the Digital. Cyborgs, Avatars, and AI. Institute of Contemporary Art, Architecture, and Design at the Art Academy of Latvia (LMDA), Riga. Podcast. <fold.lv> <hfg-offenbach.de> <spotify.com>
Tanajeva, Margarita. 2023. Актуальнаякамера. ERR, ETV+,05.05.2023, 19:28-21:28.
<etvpluss.err.ee> 
Petersell, Owe; Häkli, Ave. 2023. ERR, OP, 153. osa, 10:05-19:36. <jupiter.err.ee>
Kuusk, Priit. Aktuaalne kamera. ERR, 29.05.2023, 23:42-25.25. <jupiter.err.ee> <kultuur.err.ee>
Malkin, Mihhail; Julia Tisler. 2022. Kofe+. 18.04.2022, 00:05-07:25. <jupiterpluss.err.ee>
Malkin, Mihhail, 2021. Летняя студия. ERR, ETV+, 12.04.2022, 00:00-07:31.
<etvpluss.err.ee>
Malkin, Mihhail, 2021. Летняя студия. ERR, ETV+, 04.08.2021, 26:11-33:26.
<etvpluss.err.ee>
Suržikova, Aljona, 2021. Edulood. Darja Popolitova. ERR, ETV+, 21.03.2021, 00:00-43:07. 
<rus.err.ee> <arhiiv.err.ee> <etvpluss.err.ee> <ee.vesti.news> <etv+ facebook> <services.err.ee>
Žemžurov, Aleksandr; Sergeeva, Varvara, 2021. Великолепная четверка. Художник украшений Дарья Пополитова о своей истории успеха!. ERR, Raadio 4, 09.02.2021, 00:00-12:18.
<r4.err.ee> 
Võsumets, Marian, 2021. Reporter. Kanal 2, 29.01.2021, 00:00-17:52.
<reporter.kanal2.ee> 
<cca.facebook> <uudis.net> 
Karasjova, Natalja, 2020. Кофе+. ERR, ETV+, 14.10.2020, 03:36-05:00.
 <etvpluss.err.ee> <d.popolitova.fb-post>
Boons, Sofie, 2020. Lockdown Series | Digital Jewellery. Digital Jewellery with Darja Popolitova. The British Academy of Jewellery, BAJ Podcast, 19.06.2020, 00:00-31:20. <podbean.com>
Hiob, Lilian, 2020. Vitamiin K. Darja Popolitova. IDA Radio, 08.07.2020, 00:00-30:00. <idaidaida.net>
Katsan, Ellina, 2020. Актуальная камера. ERR, ETV+, 05.07.2020, 07:46-09:15. <etvpluss.err.ee>
Tisler, Julija, 2020. Летняя студия. ERR, ETV+, 07.07.2020, 10:36-13:57. <etvpluss.err.ee>
Jahimovich, Ilona, 2019. Звуки. Мысли. Встречи. Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, Latvijas Radio 4,
28.03.2019, (16:07) 00:00-22:31. <lr4.lsm.lv>
Vetik, Anne, 2019. Materialism. Külas Darja Popolitova. IDA Radio, 13.09.2018, 59:33. <idaidaida.net>
Tisler, Julija, 2018. Актуальная камера. Дизайнер Дарья Пополитова рассказала о процессе изготовления современных украшений. ERR, ETV+, 16.09.2018, 00:00-04:01. <rus.err.ee>
Vedom, Evelina, 2017. Рабарбар. Наша культура: 65. ERR, ETV+, 19.05.2017, 15:10-22:25. <arhiiv.err.ee>
Kilumets, Margit. 2016. OP. Ehtekunstnik Darja Popolitova: vene rahvastik on Eestis peidetud ressurss. ERR, ETV, 03.05.2016, 00:00-03:00. <kultuur.err.ee>
Kilumets, Margit. 2016. OP. ERR, ETV, 11.10.2016, 15:05-17:54. <arhiiv.err.ee>
Rotar, Dan, 2016. Барабан. ERR, Raadio 4, 11.07.2015. 00:00-48:46. <r4.err.ee>

News 🗞 Madlen Hirtentreu and Darja Popolitova at Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design: 23.10.2025