Barbara Kukovec (1980) graduated from AGRFT Ljubljana and holds an MA from Goldsmiths College, London. As an actress and performer she has collaborated with many creators (D. Živadinov, T. Zgonc, M. Gržinić, A. Šmid, R. Waltl, I. Peternelj, B. Jablanovec, J. Janša, M. Reiter) in diverse productions across Slovenia and internationally.
Her artistic work was marked by collaboration with the international contemporary art platform Via Negativa. Between 2002 and 2012 she co-created six performances that critically marked the Slovenian performing arts space. She has been awarded the Sever Student Award and Golden Bird (2003), with residencies in New York (2008), Sheffield (2009) and Birmingham (2011).
In 2020 she co-founded Zavod Rizoma with Rob Canning, where they explore placing contemporary artistic practice in the context of the countryside.
Recent Work
As Author / Devisor
- Pissed (2026) — with Minca Lorenci, Društvo Moment
- Umetnost življenja: Umor na podeželju (2025) — with Katarina Stegnar and Urška Brodar, co-produced by Mladinsko Theatre, Zavod Rizoma and City of Women
- Sladke skrbi (2023) — Mladinsko Theatre
- Dš, dš, dš deževnik (2023) — Nagib, Maribor
- Potential States (2020) — with Eva Nina Lampič and Beliban zu Stolberg
- Mi Ne Gremo Nikamor / We are here to stay (2019) — with Društvo Moment, Maribor
As Actor
- Zvezdica Zaspanka (2024) — Lutkovno gledališče Maribor
Via Negativa (2002–2012)
- Izhodiščna točka: jeza
- Še
- Bi ne bi
- Štiri smrti
- Reflektor name
- Prvi zakon B. K.
Rizoma
In 2020 she co-founded Zavod Rizoma with Rob Canning, where they explore placing contemporary artistic practice in the context of the countryside — developing a rural centre for arts, technology and permaculture in the hills of Haloze, Slovenia.
Awards & Residencies
- Sever Student Award
- Golden Bird (2003)
- Residency in New York (2008)
- Residency in Sheffield (2009)
- Residency in Birmingham (2011)