Yulia A. Smolenkova
Dubai,UAE
Summary
PhD holder in history of art and architecture with expertise in art curation. Founder of openspace.ae, an online platform enhancing visibility for UAE art. Proven skills in project management and audience development within the art community. Award-winning contemporary artist with a strong international presence and demand from galleries across Europe, USA, Russia, and UAE.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work history
Founder and Editor-in-chief
OpenSpace.ae
Dubai, UAE
2020.01 - 2026.03
Developed open space as leading online portal for art and culture in UAE, publishing news, analytical texts, and interviews with artists, architects, and curators regularly.
Supported overall concept, editorial policy, and creative direction of platform, connecting local scene with international context through carefully curated content.
Assisted in building sustainable ecosystem around open space for artists, researchers, and collectors, combining media, curatorial projects, and coverage of key exhibitions and initiatives in region.
Managed team of seven employees across editorial, research, communications, and project development.
Co-Founder and Deputy Head Editor
Peer-reviewed scientific and analytical journals on art, culture and architecture
Moscow, Russian
2003.01 - 2026.03
- Supported editorial team in producing content for magazine focused on history of art and architecture.
- Assisted in developing funding strategies for publication initiatives.
- Contributed ideas for conceptualising magazine themes and articles.
Associate Professor
Russian State University of Applied Art and Design
2009.01 - 2025.03
- Facilitate painting and architectural project courses for university students across all education years.
- Support students in developing skills in painting, drawing, architectural projects, and architectural modelling.
- Assist in creating a collaborative learning environment for creative expression.
Education
Master - Artist of Monumental and Decorative Art
Russian Stroganov State University of Art and Industry
1 2003 - 1 2009
PhD degree - PhD in Art and Architecture
Moscow Stroganov State University of Art and Industry
1 2009 - 1 2011
Entrepreneurship in the Field of Culture
Moscow State University
1 2019 - 1 2020
Luxury Marketing for Art Field
Moscow State Institute of International Relations
1 2022 - 1 2023
Affiliations
- Member of the International Artists Union in Belgium
- Member of the International Arts Fund
- Member of the Sculptors Union of Russia
- Member of the Artists Union of Russia
- Member of the Moscow Union of Artists
- Personal member of ICOM (International Council of Museums)
- Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts
- Member of The Russian Federation of Practical Shooting (IPSC Russia)
Languages
English
Fluent
Russian
Native
German
Intermediate
French
Intermediate
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
- 2025, Personal exhibition Cities by Julia Smolenkova, Picasso Gallery, Dubai
- 2024, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Personal exhibition Cities, Brussels, Belgium, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Elements, Russia
- 2023, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, DIFC Art Nights, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Mosaic Art, Brussels, Belgium
- 2022, DIFC Art Nights, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, She, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Hotel Show, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. CITIES, Brussels, Belgium, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Light & Shadow. Sculpture, Moscow, Russia
- 2021, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Personal exhibition Cities by Julia Smolenkova, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Hotel Show, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Cities by Julia Smolenkova x Marina Home, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Cities by Julia Smolenkova x West Elm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Color of the City, Brussels, Belgium
- 2020, Women in Art, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7th IDF Oman 2020, Muscat, Oman, Personal exhibition Colors of cities. Julia Smolenkova, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Symphony of stone, Moscow, Russia
- 2019, Exhibition UAE Year of Tolerance, Dubai, UAE, Cities, Paris, France, Exhibition Flower Power, Brussels, Belgium, City Lights, Paris, France, Exhibition New Year on Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium, Personal exhibition Cities, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Colors of the city, Brussels, Belgium, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Personal exhibition Art of Mosaic, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition La Tete d'or, Brussels, Belgium, Personal exhibition Walking on the roofs, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia
- 2018, Personal exhibition Space of cities, Moscow, Russia, Travel notes, Paris, France, World Art Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Personal exhibition Graphic Art, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Villes, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Travelling notes, Brussels, Belgium, International exhibition Muse, Moscow, Russia, Personal project Cities' light, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition La Tete d'or, Brussels, Belgium, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia
- 2017, Exhibition E'CARTA mini carte contemporanee, Milan, Italy, Personal exhibition Les toits du monde, Moscow, Russia, Italy, Paris, France, Personal exhibition Arts of Mosaic, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Villes, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Lights, Brussels, Belgium, International exhibition Abstraction, Moscow, Russia, Villes, Paris, France, Exhibition La Tete d'or, Brussels, Belgium
- 2016, Exhibition Les toits du monde, Cannes, France, Exhibition E'CARTA mini carte contemporanee, Milan, Italy, Space of Colour, Paris, France, Exhibition La Tete d'or, Brussels, Belgium, Personal exhibition Space of Colour, Brussels, Belgium, Personal exhibition Polyphonic Abstractions, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Graphic Arts, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Moscow and Muscovites in the 20-21 Centuries, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Les toits du monde, Brussels, Belgium, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia
- 2015, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Planes of Colour, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition The Air, Brussels, Belgium, Exhibition Dynasty, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture: Modern Format, Moscow, Russia
- 2014, Exhibition Innovation of Colour, New York, USA, V International Russian-Chinese Art Festival, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, Exhibition In Search of National Style, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Graphic Arts, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Images of Crimea, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Forme et Couleur, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Muses of Surrealism, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Muses of Surrealism, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Moscow meets Friends, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia
- 2013, Personal exhibition Couleur et Forme, Brussels, Belgium, Exhibition Saint-Petersburg Secession, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, Exhibition Experience of Minimalism, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Parallels of Preferences, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, Personal exhibition Julia Smolenkova. Mosaic. Clouds, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Planet of Vernadsky, Moscow, Russia
- 2012, Exhibition Colour and Shape, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Art of Sculpture. Creation of the Myth, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Creative Union of Artists of Russia, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition 80 Years of the Union of Artists of Russia, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition 20 Years of the International Arts Fund, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Experience of Minimalism, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The 125th Anniversary of Marc Chagall's Birth, Vitebsk, Belarus, Exhibition Memory of Marc Chagall, Paris, France, Exhibition Art Prom, Moscow, Russia
- 2011, Exhibition-international competition Moscow - the City of the World, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Surrealism, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Art, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Young Moscow Artists, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Union of Artists of Russia, Moscow, Russia, International exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia
- 2010, International exhibition The Art of Sculpture, Moscow, Russia, National Exhibition of Russia INconnect, Paris, France, Exhibition Young Artists of Russia, Moscow, Russia
- 2009, Exhibition Muses, Moscow, Russia
- 2008, Exhibition A Portrait, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Moscow Family, Moscow, Russia
- 2007, Exhibition The Burganov House Congratulates the State Tretyakov Gallery on its 150th Anniversary, Moscow, Russia
- 2006, Exhibition Self-portrait, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition The Popkov Competition, Moscow, Russia, Exhibition Young talents, Moscow, Russia
- 2005, Exhibition Sculpture and the City, Moscow
Personal Information
- Associate Professor
- Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts
- PhD in the History of Art and Architecture
- Founder OpenSpace.ae
- Multidisciplinary artist
- b. 30 January 1986 (Moscow, Russia)
Awards
- Ten-year excellence award World Art Dubai
- Honorary diploma of the Ministry of Education and Sciences of the Russian Federation
- Praiseworthy Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts
- Gold Medal of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia for Contribution to the Russian Culture
- Saint Michael Gold Medal, New York Realism, New York
- Honored Diploma of the Russian Academy of Arts
- Laureate of the Young Talents of Russia Competition by State Tretyakov Gallery
- Laureate of the International Arts Fund Prize
- Laureate of Moscow - the City of the World International Contest
Timeline
Founder and Editor-in-chief
OpenSpace.ae
2020.01 - 2026.03
Associate Professor
Russian State University of Applied Art and Design
2009.01 - 2025.03
Co-Founder and Deputy Head Editor
Peer-reviewed scientific and analytical journals on art, culture and architecture
2003.01 - 2026.03
Master - Artist of Monumental and Decorative Art
Russian Stroganov State University of Art and Industry
1 2003 - 1 2009
PhD degree - PhD in Art and Architecture
Moscow Stroganov State University of Art and Industry
1 2009 - 1 2011
Entrepreneurship in the Field of Culture
Moscow State University
1 2019 - 1 2020
Luxury Marketing for Art Field
Moscow State Institute of International Relations
1 2022 - 1 2023