Petrit Halilaj considers exhibitions as means to alter the course of personal and collective histories, creating complex worlds that claim a space for freedom, desire, intimacy, and identity. His work is deeply tied to the recent history of his homeland, Kosovo, and the consequences of cultural and political tensions in the region, which he often uses as a starting point to trigger counter-narratives for the future. Rooted in his biography, his projects encompass a variety of media, including sculpture, drawing, painting, text, and performance. Often incorporating materials from Kosovo and manifesting as ambitious spatial installations, his work transposes personal relationships, places, and people into sculptural forms. Halilaj’s practice can be seen as a playful and sometimes irreverent attempt to resist oppressive politics and social norms in favor of a wild celebration of all forms of connection and freedom.
Museo Tamayo, Mexico, 2023
Venice Biennale, 2017
Palacio de Cristal, Madrid, 2020
The MET Museum, New York, 2024
Museo Tamayo, Mexico, 2023
Venice Biennale, 2017
Palacio de Cristal, Madrid, 2020
The MET Museum, New York, 2024
Museo Tamayo, Mexico, 2023
Venice Biennale, 2017
Palacio de Cristal, Madrid, 2020
The MET Museum, New York, 2024
portfolio
2024
“Abetare The Roof Garden Commission: Petrit Halilaj”, The MET Museum, New York
2023
“Petrit Halilaj: Runik”, curated by José Esparza Chong Cuy, Tamayo Museum, Mexico City
“Petrit Halilaj (Unfinished Histories)”, curated by Elisa Rusca, The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Geneva, Switzerland
“Lunar Ensemble for the Uprising Seas” with Alvaro Urbano, The Ocean Space, Venice, Italy