Madina Joldybek (b. 1991) is a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator and educator born and raised in Jezkazgan (Kazakhstan, Central Asia).

Her practice revolves around themes of women's bodily integrity, sexuality, multi-dimensional motherhood, kelinism, identity, and authoritarian regimes. Madina employs various mediums such as weaving, illustration, painting, collage, sculpture, video, and installation in her work. Joldybek is the inaugural recipient of the B. Bubikanova Art Prize and a member of the DAVRA, a research collective that fosters dynamic exchanges of experiences and knowledge to strengthen the Central Asian art scene. Her work is part of the public collection at the Kasteev State Museum of Arts, as well as private collections.


Solo Exhibitions:
2023 Dandelion Milk, Studio106LA (online)
2021 Mixed Feelings, DOM36, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Selected Group Exhibitions:
2025
Mother, Goodyear Arts, North Carolina, USA
Interweaving, Exposed Arts Projects, London, UK
Ancient Futures: Exploring Ancestry, Crafts and Ecology, MOC Hub, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Ancient Futures, Egin Space, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Between the Two Rivers, Art Station, Samarkand, Uzbekistan (as part of DAVRA)
Memory Space Progress, Kasteev State Museum of Arts, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Central Asian Cinema, QAGOMA, Australian Cinémathèque, Queensland, Australia

2024
Bubikanova Art Prize Shortlist exhibition, Aspan Gallery, Almaty, Kazakhstan
New Beginnings, Tbilisi Art Fair, Expogeorgia
Her Gaze: Moving Image from CA, Vleeshal Center, Middelburg, Netherlands
as part of DAVRA:
Lahore Biennale: Of Mountains and Seas
, Alhamra Art Center, Pakistan
Tomorrows - A Land of Water x Davra, Fondazione Cariverona, Verona, Italy
Biennale Matter of Art, National Gallery Prague, Czechia
DAVRA and Beyond: Videos of CA Artists program, JOAN, LA

2023
Parcours,
Asia NOW, Monnaie de Paris, France
Annual Art Exhibition, W3 Gallery, London, UK 
Clouds, Power, Ornament, Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT), Hong Kong 
Food for All, Kingshill House, Dursley, UK  

2022
Chilltan x Saodat Ismailova, documenta fifteen, Kassel, Germany (as part of DAVRA)
Food for All, Kingshill House, Dursley, UK
Ol Qyz (“She is a girl”), Platforma projectroom, Astana, Kazakhstan

Public Programs:
2025
Waters We Carry, Linocut & Zine Making Workshop, Exposed Arts Projects, London, UK (Part of the Interweaving Climate, Water(s) and Communities Programme x Artcom Platform x Care for Balkhash x Ainalaiyn Space)
Bloom & Stitch, Punch Needle Embroidery Workshop, Teplo Pop-Up, London, UK

2023
Cyphering Vibrating Emanating, Delfina Foundation, London, UK — participated as co-performer in I Sing Your Tale by Jazgul Madazimova
What is La Makan, Zine Making Workshop, Three Highgate Gallery w/ Ainalaiyn Space, London, UK
Rethinking Dolls, Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kazakh Wedding Songs (Toy Änderi), Zine Making Workshop, Babalar Press (online)
Collective Parenthood Manifesto, Tufting & Punch Needle Workshop, Hong Kong
ZINE COOP Party, art book fair, London, UK

2022
Azbuka Strikes Back, Slavs and Tatars' Pickle Bar, Berlin, Germany

2020
Almaty City Paper Walks, Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, Almaty, Kazakhstan




Awards & Recognition
2024
Acts of Creation Competition 
by Hettie Judah,
UK (Winner)

B. Bubikanova Art Prize


2023
a-n Artists Award
London

Press / Features

DAZED
Manshuq
Ruyò Journal
Batyr Jamal
Art of Her
documenta fifteen
Eye Filmmuseum Mag
Financial Times
Metropolis M
Art Paper
Slavs and Tatars’ Pickle Bar
New Lines Magazine
Elle Kazakhstan
Culture Plus Asia
Bologna Children’s Book Fair 
Adamdar/CA
Garage Museum x Tselinny
Femagora Central Asia 2021
Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture
Ariadna Media
Vlast.kz
U.S. Consulate General Munich 
Air Astana in-flight magazine, TENGRI, pages 92-95
Manshuq Podcast