Rika Kova
Born: 1993
Hometown: Abakan
Based in: Chicago
RIKA KOVA is a Chicago-based artist and sculptor who mainly focuses on ceramics. She was born in a small town in Southern Siberia, close to the border with Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and China. Being surrounded by different Asian cultures and growing up close to nature, she finds her inspiration in her travels, spends a lot of time outdoors, exploring new lands and learning about new cultures. The interest in art was cultivated during her teenage years, however, the scientific and mathematical part of her personality, dragged Rika to get her first degree in Economics. In her early 20s, Rika immigrated to the US where she further developed her artistic skills, received an associate degree in Art and Design from the Community College of Philadelphia, and later her Bachelors of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
3 works for sale
Rika Kova In The Studio
"Time is everything and nothing. Working with clay brings me peace. The ego leaves the mind. The mind leaves the physical world. Living in the moment: not knowing where the shape would take me, and not being able to change what clay has given me in the past. You learn how to appreciate what you were given, how to build something from scratch, how to accept things when they are imperfect."
More About Rika Kova
What inspires you?
Weird shapes, sells under the microscope, music, traveling, hiking in the mountains.
Describe your creative process.
Spontaneous, sometimes with no planning, going with the flow, and trusting the process.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Flow, mind, body.
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Ken Prince, Isamu Noguchi, Constantin Brancusi, Hans Arp.
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Hands and scraper tool.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Apologize only once. A mistake done twice is a decision.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Dreams, mountains, studio.
Credentials
Education
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
United States of America, 2021
Community College of Philadelphia
United States of America, 2020
Siberian Institute of Management
Russia, 2013
Exhibitions
The Flashback
2021
Bridges
2019
Art Exhibition at CCP
2019
Awards
CARES Grant
2021
SAIC Presidential Scholarship
2020
SAIC Support Grant
2020
SAIC Transfer Partner Award
2020
NCECA Multicultural Fellowship
2019
Matriculated College Student Scholarship
2018
Education
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
United States of America, 2021
Community College of Philadelphia
United States of America, 2020
Siberian Institute of Management
Russia, 2013
Exhibitions
The Flashback
2021
Bridges
2019
Art Exhibition at CCP
2019
Awards
CARES Grant
2021
SAIC Presidential Scholarship
2020
SAIC Support Grant
2020
SAIC Transfer Partner Award
2020
NCECA Multicultural Fellowship
2019
Matriculated College Student Scholarship
2018