Valentino Skarwan (b. 1998) is an Austrian–Guatemalan multidisciplinary artist living and working between Vienna and Guatemala City. Their practice constructs atmospheric environments that unfold like fragmented scenes, where materials, gestures, and bodies carry desire, intimacy, and ecological attention. Traces, residues, and unfinished actions function as narrative elements, allowing spaces to hold memory and quiet hauntings.
Their work has been presented in institutional and independent contextsinternationally and moves between exhibition spaces, stages, and compost piles. Skarwan has collaborated ecosexually with Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, performed with Doris Uhlich for the opening of Kulturhauptstadt Europas Bad Ischl, and presented work at Belvedere 21 (2023) as part of Über das Neue.
They exhibited “Some Foreplay, Lovers of Compost” at Klima Biennale Wien 2024 and performed 2025 “Lost Encounters, They Cling” at Spit Festival (TQW). Their project “We All Shapeshift” received the Simacek Art Award 2025 and was exhibited at Künstlerhaus as part of the Ö1 Talent Scholarship 2024 nomination. Skarwan studied with Jakob Lena Knebl and has collaborated as a performerwith Gelatin and Young Boy Dancing Group.
Education
2023 TransMediale Kunst/ Universität für angewandte Kunst, Wien-AT
2018-2025 Bildende Kunst/ Universität für angewandte Kunst, Wien-AT
2017–2018 Bildende Kunst/ Universität für künstlerische und industrielle Gestaltung, Linz-AT
Prices
2024 Ö1 Talents Scholarship (shortlisted) 2024
2025 Simacek Award
2025 Simacek Award
(Selected) solo EXHIBITIONS /PERFORMANCE
Artist Statment
Parallel
Vienna
2025
Lost Encounters, They Cling
Spitfestival
Tanzquartier
Vienna
2024
We All Shapeshift,
Ö1 Talentstipendium Finalist
KünstlerHaus
2024
Picnic Crashers
Zeitraum Exit
Mannheim
2023
Some Foreplay
together with Andrius Mulokas
Perfromance Über das Neue
Belvedere 21,
2022
Todoterreno,
with Vendula Fabianova,
Kiosko Gallery, BOL
Lost Encounters, They Cling
Spitfestival
Tanzquartier
Vienna
2024
We All Shapeshift,
Ö1 Talentstipendium Finalist
KünstlerHaus
2024
Picnic Crashers
Zeitraum Exit
Mannheim
2023
Some Foreplay
together with Andrius Mulokas
Perfromance Über das Neue
Belvedere 21,
2022
Todoterreno,
with Vendula Fabianova,
Kiosko Gallery, BOL
(Selected) Group EXHIBITIONS /PERFORMANCE
2026 Upcomming
Fluscia
by Daniela Georgieva
Tanzhaus Düsseldorf;DE
2024
We all Shapeshift,
Ideal Means
NeuerKunstverein, AT
2024
Chemeric Tendencies
by Xava Mikosch
Sterischer Herbst;AT
2024
Pudertanz
by Doris Uhlich,
Bad Ischl Kulturhauptstadt Europa;AT
2024
Lovers of Compost
Klima Biennale
die Feldversuche
2024
A Ray of Light
by Mary Szydlowska
MOMA, Warsaw
2023
Groupshow
curated by Lisa Jäger
Sharp projects, DK
2023
Melancholic Ground
by Doris Uhlich,
Wienerfestswochen,AT
2023
more than naked
by Doris Uhlich,
Opening Impulstanz, AT
2021
A Rooster Alone does not Weave the Dawn
invited by Hugo Canoilas,
Quinta do Quetzal, POR
2021
Gelitin,
Tiroler Landesmuseum
Ferdinandeum, AT
2020
Habitat, (pandemicversion)
by Doris Uhlich,
TQW Halle E, AT
PUBLIKATION
Über das Neue 2024
Belvedere 21
2024
Auf der Suche nach einem kulturellen Attraktor,
Off Image
2023
Die Feldversuche
2021/2024
Burgtheater
Das Medium Kunst
2021/22
Belvedere 21
2024
Auf der Suche nach einem kulturellen Attraktor,
Off Image
2023
Die Feldversuche
2021/2024
Burgtheater
Das Medium Kunst
2021/22