Aya Shalkar (b. 1996, Kazakhstan) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity, gender roles, and the reinvention of Central Asian mythology through a futuristic lens. Her artistic universe, The World of Peri, merges indigenous Kazakh culture with elements of science fiction and fantasy, reclaiming the underrepresented female warrior archetype.
A traditional Kazakh-style archer, Shalkar does not just depict her warrior characters, she embodies them. Her practice is deeply immersive, bridging artistic creation with lived experience. She incorporates her own body and movement into her work, bringing her fictional world to life through performance, photography, and sculptural storytelling.
Shalkar’s creative approach, which she describes as future archaeology, combines artistic practice with historically accurate research on ancient Turkic culture. Beyond textile techniques such as embroidery and patchwork, she delves into artifact reconstruction, reimagining lost relics of the nomadic past through the lens of a speculative, magical world. By recreating weapons, adornments, and ceremonial objects, she breathes new life into traditions that have been overlooked or forgotten.
With a background in graphic design and a passion for archaeology, sci-fi world-building, and speculative storytelling, Shalkar’s vision moves fluidly between physical and digital realms. Her weapon sculptures - daggers, swords, and other ritual objects serve as both historical reconstructions and futuristic talismans, blending craftsmanship with mythmaking. In the digital space, her work has seamlessly transitioned into Web3, where her NFTs have gained significant recognition.
Shalkar’s work has been featured in Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Nowness, i-D Magazine, Elle, and Sleek.
Exhibitions
• Sense of Rhythm, Kasteev National Museum of Arts, Almaty (2021)
• Matrilineal Tales, Sapar Contemporary, New York (2022)
• Untitled Art, Miami Beach, Florida (2023)
Collections
• Brown University, Providence, RI
Aya became known for her creative projects on Instagram and uses her ever-growing platform for art and self-expression.
OpenSea: AyaShalkar