Justina Leston (b.1986) is an Argentinian photographer and graphic designer. Her work explores the crossovers between the mundane, the absurd, and the arbitrary: emphasizing error, humor, and beauty, playing with the real and unreal blurring the limits of fiction and reality. Her work was selected and exhibited in different competitions in Argentina and Uruguay and was invited to show her work in different opportunities in Berlin. In 2023 she published her first book “Who spies on us?” with Metaninfas.
She lives and works in Berlin.
Books
2023
Who Spies On Us?, published by metaninfas ediciones
Exhibitions and Prizes
2024
Who Spies On Us? – Finalist Best Book of the Year, PHoto España
2022
NEUSTART KULTUR – Stiftung Kunstfonds / Berlin, Deutschland
2022
Krit-Kölln – Zeitraum für Zweifel, Top e.v, Berlin (Germany)
2022
Con Nombre Propio, Embajada de la República Argentina, Berlin (Germany)
2021
Dreieck, Hilbert Raum, Berlin (Germany)
2021
Berlin gegen das Patriarchat, FRIEDA, Berlin (Germany)
2020
Sonderprogramm der Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa
2018
Speculation, Group exhibition, WESERHALLE, Berlin (Germany)
2017
Finalist of Prize FRANCISCO AYERZA, Centro Cultural Borges, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2017
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Solo Show, Alianza Francesa, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2017
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Promiscua IV, Alimentación General, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2017
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Shortlisted at the CdF Dummy Book Award, Montevideo (Uruguay)
2016
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Finalist of Felifa FUTURA Prize, Fola, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2016
Finalist of the 5th AAMEC Award for Contemporary Photography Argentina, Museum Emilio Caraffa, Córdoba (Argentina)
2016
Prize Arte Jóven Fundación Williams, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2013
Tribute to Robert Frank at Galeria Arte x Arte, Nano Festival, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Artist Residencies
2021
SESAM Art Residency, Slavutych (Ukrainian)
Seminars and Workshops
2023
Album Abierto, with Romina Resuche, Proyecto Imaginario
2023
Ceramics, Kunsthaus Prenzlauer Berg
2021-22
Taller de prácticas artísticas with Lorena Fernández
2019-20
Ceramics, Club Mud
2019
Steindruck Lithografie, Billdunswerk bbk
2019
ASX + VOID Laboratory with Mark Power
2018
Curatorial-Clinic Photographic project with Krit-Kölln
2019
ISSP, Masterclass of Peter Bialobrzeski
2016
Curatorial-Clinic Photographic project with Lorena Fernández
2016
ISSP Photo Editing Workshop with Paolo Woods
2015
Photographers in crisis Workshop with Alberto Goldenstein
2014-15
Drawing studying with Martin Palottini
2012-14
Engraving and Print Art, National University of Arts, Buenos Aires
2014
Seminar of Contemporary Photography History with Eduardo Gil
2013
Scholarship for Seminar in Advanced Photography with Daniel Tubio
2013
Workshop of not toxic engraving with Yuli Andrea Cadavid
2012
Seminar pinhole photography with Daniel Tubio
2012-13
Workshop of Photoplay with Silvina Paulón, Carlos Scannapieco and Nestor Goyanes
Education
2011
BA Graphic Design, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2007
School of Creative Photography, Andy Goldstein, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2023
Who Spies On Us?, published by metaninfas ediciones
Exhibitions and Prizes
2024
Who Spies On Us? – Finalist Best Book of the Year, PHoto España
2022
NEUSTART KULTUR – Stiftung Kunstfonds / Berlin, Deutschland
2022
Krit-Kölln – Zeitraum für Zweifel, Top e.v, Berlin (Germany)
2022
Con Nombre Propio, Embajada de la República Argentina, Berlin (Germany)
2021
Dreieck, Hilbert Raum, Berlin (Germany)
2021
Berlin gegen das Patriarchat, FRIEDA, Berlin (Germany)
2020
Sonderprogramm der Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa
2018
Speculation, Group exhibition, WESERHALLE, Berlin (Germany)
2017
Finalist of Prize FRANCISCO AYERZA, Centro Cultural Borges, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2017
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Solo Show, Alianza Francesa, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2017
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Promiscua IV, Alimentación General, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2017
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Shortlisted at the CdF Dummy Book Award, Montevideo (Uruguay)
2016
Who Spies On Us? Notes of a persecution, Finalist of Felifa FUTURA Prize, Fola, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2016
Finalist of the 5th AAMEC Award for Contemporary Photography Argentina, Museum Emilio Caraffa, Córdoba (Argentina)
2016
Prize Arte Jóven Fundación Williams, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2013
Tribute to Robert Frank at Galeria Arte x Arte, Nano Festival, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Artist Residencies
2021
SESAM Art Residency, Slavutych (Ukrainian)
Seminars and Workshops
2023
Album Abierto, with Romina Resuche, Proyecto Imaginario
2023
Ceramics, Kunsthaus Prenzlauer Berg
2021-22
Taller de prácticas artísticas with Lorena Fernández
2019-20
Ceramics, Club Mud
2019
Steindruck Lithografie, Billdunswerk bbk
2019
ASX + VOID Laboratory with Mark Power
2018
Curatorial-Clinic Photographic project with Krit-Kölln
2019
ISSP, Masterclass of Peter Bialobrzeski
2016
Curatorial-Clinic Photographic project with Lorena Fernández
2016
ISSP Photo Editing Workshop with Paolo Woods
2015
Photographers in crisis Workshop with Alberto Goldenstein
2014-15
Drawing studying with Martin Palottini
2012-14
Engraving and Print Art, National University of Arts, Buenos Aires
2014
Seminar of Contemporary Photography History with Eduardo Gil
2013
Scholarship for Seminar in Advanced Photography with Daniel Tubio
2013
Workshop of not toxic engraving with Yuli Andrea Cadavid
2012
Seminar pinhole photography with Daniel Tubio
2012-13
Workshop of Photoplay with Silvina Paulón, Carlos Scannapieco and Nestor Goyanes
Education
2011
BA Graphic Design, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2007
School of Creative Photography, Andy Goldstein, Buenos Aires (Argentina)