Pre-order Angela Nikolau

Baron is pleased to present the debut book by Russian performance artist Angela Nikolau Sky Borne, featuring new and existing works from her expansive body of work. Nikolau’s practice is deeply rooted in the roof-topping movement and aligned with the spirit of outsider art, where she uses self-portraiture to document her ascents of skyscrapers—structures widely seen as potent symbols of capitalism and corporate power.

 

Throughout the book, Nikolau's art explores themes of feminine strength and the complex relationship between architecture and the human form. Performance and collaboration serve as a fundamental component of her work and she meticulously shapes sculptures alongside her partner Ivan Beerkus, by utilizing her body, the principles of gravity, and the surrounding environment. Her work sits at the intersection of urban exploration, extreme sports, contemporary photography, and digital subcultures—all filtered through a deeply personal, almost performative lens.

 

Nikolau has achieved significant recognition through her digital presence alongside her collaborator Beerkus, particularly via social media, where her consistent sharing has cultivated a substantial following. By choosing independence over the often-gatekept world of traditional galleries, her practice echoes the ethos of Art Brut—a term introduced in 1945 by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art made outside the boundaries of the established cultural mainstream. By showcasing her work digitally, Nikolau has fostered a direct connection with her audience and built a strong, engaged community around her and Beerkus’s creative vision.

 

The book is organized chronologically, following a narrative that resembles a road trip. It features over 100 works and invites readers to journey through unknown and outsider spaces. The publication includes essays by key collaborators and is designed to reflect the verticality of the towers Angela has explored.

 

Artist Bio

Angela Nikolau (b. June 24, 1993) is a visual artist based in New York. Her work has appeared in publications including  GQ,  Vanity Fair, Esquire, The Art Insider, and The Times. Her life and work were recently featured in the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. Her debut solo exhibition will open this summer at the Crypt Gallery in New York. Born in Russia, she studied at the Moscow Academy of Fine Arts. This book marks her first published monograph.

 

Hardback Book

150 pages

24 x 31 cm

Pre-order delivery Autumn / Winter 2025