ABE LEO / Leon Crayfish- 
an interdisciplinary artist working with object, body, and form at
the intersection of the utilitarian and the sculptural. His practice
explores how functional items transform into vessels for attention,
energy, and meaning. Engaging in an independent practice since
the early 2000s, he has developed a distinct visual language
rooted in material, construction, and space, backed by a formal
background in art and textile design. Central to his method is the
transition from an applied object to an artistic statement, where
costume and form are treated as structures akin to architecture
and sculpture.
Leveraging a monumental 20-year background in object design
and scenography for progressive interdisciplinary projects
(including the Gogol Center and the Praktika Theatre), the artist
shifted his focus entirely toward contemporary art in the 2020s.
Today, he actively expands his international exhibition practice,
combining high-tech installations (such as his Science-Art project
in Europe and the "Totems" sculpture series) with intuitive painting,
the first solo presentation of which took place in Istanbul in 2025.

Artistic Practic

I am interested in the inner world of contemporary people and how it is shaped by technology, society, and their own expectations. My work reflects on the fear of unrealized potential, the search for one's own path, inner conflict, and the struggle to preserve personal identity in a world that is changing at an ever-increasing pace.
Through installations and sculptural objects, I explore the relationship between humans and contemporary technologies, artificial intelligence, and the shifting system of values. My focus is not on technology itself, but on its impact on people—how it influences our decisions, attention, memory, and our understanding of who we are.
Although I work across different media, all of my projects are connected by a single question: What happens to a person when the world begins to change faster than they can adapt to it? This question forms the foundation of my practice, whether the work takes the form of painting, sculpture, or installation.

EDUCATION
2007 BA in Textile Design, St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (SPbSUITD), St.
Petersburg, Russia

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Solo Painting Presentation, Studio Karaköy, Istanbul, Turkey

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS & INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
2021–2022 You and I, You and Me (International Science-Art research project and interactive installation).
Curated by Mindaugas Gapševičius and Maria Safronova Wahlström. Presented at contemporary art festivals and
exhibition venues across Europe:
Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria
Futureless Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
BRAINTour, Embodiment, Berlin, Germany
Vorspiel ransmediale, Berlin, Germany
Piksel Festival, Bergen, Norway
Matter to Matter, BIOrama project

2026 Spring Flare-up, IzzI Room Gallery, Saint-Peterburg
2026 Totems, Conceptual Sculpture and Sound Installation (In preparation / Current project)
2026 Drowning in Ideas, Multimedia Sculpture and Technological Installation (In preparation / Current project)
2026 Brave Wave, online group exhibition, Clover Gallery (participation confirmed)