Mariana Kostandini is Albanian artist based in Paris.
She was trained as a classical musician since her early age, graduating in violin from Jordan Misja Art School in Tirana. Mariana Kostandini began practicing photography during her art history studies in Paris, where she earned degrees from the École du Louvre in Contemporary Art and from Panthéon-Sorbonne University in social documentary photography, with research focused on the work of Mary Ellen Mark.
Her work explores themes of individual and colletive memory, as well as the relationship to public space, through documentary, research, urbanism and architeture photography.
Her first artist book 13e Ciel (2023), explores the urban metamorphosis of the 13th district in Paris.
Her recent project, The Ones We Lost (2024), draws upon family archive images to explore the concepts of trace and fiction.
As a curator, her projects include From Their Hands at the Centre Pompidou, Archive of Voices on Maks Velo, and all the exhibitions of Projektor, parisian artist-run initiative which she co-founded with in the aim of promoting emerging artists.
She is a member of Saloon Art Network since September 2022.
Shows
Le Nouveau Printemps - Kiddy Smile - Toulouse 2025, "Faire Famille", curator Yandé Diouf, opening May 22nd 2025
"Vazhdë" - Curating with Care, group exhibition in Bazament Art Space, Tirana Albania curated by Tirana Art Lab, December 2023
La Chambre Verte, festival d'art contemporain, group exhibition, Saint-Sulpice d'Auteuil France, September 2022
Community Issue #120, group exhibition, F-Stop Magazine, August 2023
Tirana Photo Festival, participation, September 2022
Perchance to Dream - Onufri Prize XIX, Finalist, curated by Daniele Capra, National Gallery of Arts, Tirana Albania, December 2012
When you're strange, solo photo exhibition, Faitout bar, Paris France, 2012
Publications - Books
The Ones We Lost, Artist book, Paris, March 2024 (re-edition January 2025)
13e Ciel - Artist book, book launch, Paris France, 30 September 2023
Revue-sur-mesure, article on 13e Ciel book, November 2023
Albania/Germany - A Diary in Photos, preface text of exhibition's catalogue, Tirana Art Lab, 2011
Curation - Art Projects
Member of Saloon Paris, september 2022
Projektor - Art Association Paris France, co-founder together with Ines Henzler, various activities from 2014 to 2020 promoting young artists in unusal and informal places
Les Balkannes, jury member for the photo festival organised by Contempl'art Paris, together with Milomir Kovacevic and Andrea Vamos, 2022
"Tell me about Europe" - Archive of Voices Project, curated by Arbeit an Europa, interview with artist Maks Velo, 2019
"From Their Hands" space with Matali Crasset and Endri Dani, curated by Mariana Kostandini during the Musem On/Off Exhibition curated by Alicia Knock, Centre Pompidou, Paris France, 2016
Mikropolis - Solo show Anastas Kostandini, curated by Mariana Kostandini, Fab Gallery, Tirana Albania, 2012
Education
2012 Master's Degree in Social Photography (on Mary Ellen Mark, under the supervision of Michel Poivert), Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris France
2011 Master's Degree in Visual Arts and Music (on Pendulum Music of Steve Reich, under the supervision of Patrick de Haas), Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris France
2010 Degree "Premier cycle" of Ecole du Louvre (Contemporary Art profile), Paris France
2010 Licence in Art History (Contemporary Art profile), Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris France
2007 Licence in Musicology, La Sorbonne, Paris France
2004 Artistic Bachelor Degree, Artistic Lyceum Jordan Misja (violin), Tirana Albania