When Aya Shalkar set out to create a project addressing women’s rights in Kazakhstan, the world looked very different. COVID-19 had yet to upend daily life, and her original vision was to launch a physical exhibition that would spark meaningful conversations about gender inequality while giving a voice to women affected by violence, discrimination, and social pressures.
Then the pandemic arrived, bringing those plans to an abrupt halt. Like countless creatives around the world, Shalkar suddenly found herself navigating lockdowns, remote collaboration, and the challenge of transforming an in-person experience into something that could exist entirely online. It was not exactly the plot twist she had planned for.
Rather than abandoning the project, however, she adapted. Through a crash course in digital production and long-distance teamwork, Shalkar and her collaborators reimagined the exhibition for a virtual audience. The result was a series of augmented reality videos featuring Shalkar herself, blending art, technology, and social commentary in a way that felt both timely and deeply personal.
The finished work struck a fascinating balance. It was visually striking and unmistakably modern, embracing futuristic digital tools while remaining rooted in the historical and cultural realities that inspired it. Thought-provoking, immersive, and impossible to ignore, the project demonstrated that even a global pandemic could not silence an important conversation—it simply changed the stage on which it was being told.
A Bit of A Background
Aya Shalkar is a Kazakh artist, designer, and creative force whose work sits at the intersection of art, technology, fashion, and social commentary. Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, she set out on an international journey at just 17 years old, leaving home to study Arts and Design at the University of Strasbourg in France. After two years there, she relocated to Vienna, Austria, where she continued her education and eventually earned a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from the University of Applied Arts Vienna in 2020.
While many first discovered Shalkar through her modeling work and growing Instagram presence, she quickly established herself as much more than a social media personality. Over the years, she has transformed her platform into a space for artistic experimentation, cultural dialogue, and self-expression. Since 2012, she has been an outspoken advocate for feminism in Central Asia, using her work to explore issues surrounding gender, identity, and social expectations. Her projects frequently challenge conservative norms and encourage conversations that are not always easy—but are often necessary.
Shalkar’s experience as a model has also shaped her artistic practice in unique ways. Rather than simply appearing in front of the camera, she often incorporates her own image and body into her projects, becoming both the creator and the subject. It is a hands-on approach to storytelling—quite literally.
Visually, her work reflects her background in graphic design. Photography, digital graphics, typography, video, and mixed-media elements often coexist within a single project, creating pieces that feel layered, contemporary, and instantly recognizable. Her creative interests lean heavily toward the future, fantasy, and speculative worlds, themes that have become increasingly prominent in her recent work.
Yet beneath the striking visuals lies a deeper foundation. Shalkar is known for grounding her projects in extensive research while weaving in symbolism, metaphor, and unexpected twists. The result is art that invites viewers to look twice: first for the aesthetics, then for the ideas hiding beneath the surface. In true Aya Shalkar fashion, there is usually more going on than meets the eye—and that’s exactly the point.
Facts and Trivia
Aya Shalkar’s upbringing played a significant role in shaping the way she sees the world and, ultimately, the way she creates art. She spent her early years in the suburbs and attended a traditional Kazakh school. Growing up in what she describes as a progressive family gave her room to explore ideas and perspectives that would later become central to her creative work.
She has often reflected on Kazakhstan’s unique social landscape, which combines deep-rooted Turkic traditions with the legacy of Soviet socialism, all while continuing to navigate the rapid changes brought about by the transition to a modern capitalist society after the collapse of the Soviet Union. For Shalkar, this blend of histories, identities, and influences created a fascinating environment—one that continues to inspire her artistic perspective today.
As an artist, Shalkar approaches each project almost as if it were its own self-contained universe. Her background in graphic design has had a profound influence on her creative process, leading her to think carefully about every project’s concept, visual identity, audience, and underlying message. Rather than following a single formula, she allows each work to develop its own distinct personality. One constant, however, is her fascination with the future. Futurism remains a recurring theme throughout her work and one of her greatest creative passions.
While she tends to keep details of upcoming projects under wraps until the right moment, Shalkar’s broader ambitions are clear. She hopes her work can capture and share the excitement that comes with a sudden burst of inspiration—the kind of idea that appears unexpectedly and refuses to let go. For her, that creative spark is one of life’s greatest joys.
Ultimately, Shalkar wants her art to encourage curiosity, imagination, and optimism, particularly among audiences in Kazakhstan. Through her work, she hopes to inspire people to think beyond everyday routines, embrace new possibilities, and imagine futures that may seem distant today but could become reality tomorrow. After all, sometimes the most powerful thing art can do is remind people that the future is still being written.
Aya Shalkar Photos
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