Kika Goldstein (b. 1984, São Paulo; based in Kuala Lumpur) is a visual artist whose practice centres on painting as a means to investigate what she calls an “archaeology of memory”, a process in which shapes, colours, images, fragments, and echoes accumulate over time. Her work is driven by the tensions that emerge from the interplay between natural surroundings and old imagery, whether found in books, family photographs, or dreams.

Her compositions evoke imaginary places and scenes that challenge conventional perceptions of time, space, and narrative. Her paintings often transcend two-dimensional limits, projecting themselves into the observer’s space. Recent works have expanded into three-dimensional elements—such as soil, rocks, and large-scale paintings—as well as video and performance, reflecting her ongoing exploration of language and visual expression.

Goldstein has been investigating prehistoric cave art alongside traditional knowledge systems, particularly the craftsmanship of bamboo and rattan basketry. Drawn to their abstract, symbol-laden patterns, she has begun integrating contemporary painting with traditional artisanship to establish a cross-cultural visual dialogue in which symbols function as a form of language. She is also currently developing Weaving Memories, a film project about female, indigenous weavers in Malaysian Borneo. 

The artist holds a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts from Faculdade Santa Marcelina in São Paulo. Goldstein’s works are part of prominent institutional collections, including the Museum of the City of São Paulo and the Regional Museum of Olinda, Pernambuco. Her most recent solo exhibitions include Sussurros Simbólicos [Symbolic Whispers] (2024, ArteFASAM Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil) and Opacidade das paisagens [Opacity of Landscapes] (2022, ArteFASAM Gallery, Belo Horizonte, Brazil). She has participated in group exhibitions in Malaysia and internationally, including Annihilation (2023, SNAP Contemporary Art Centre, Shanghai, China), Interwoven Realities (2024, Harta Space, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Brasilianische Künstler (Galerie D’art Lucia Hinz, Germany), and Art Open (Eschweiler, Germany).