Sonia Leimer: Cosmic Dust
Screening and Book Launch
Friday 31 July 6.30–9pm, doors 6.30pm, film screening followed by Q&A 7pm
Join us for the launch of Cosmic Dust, a new publication arising from Sonia Leimer’s recent exhibition at The Cosmic House. The exhibition was inspired by Leimer’s ongoing research into micrometeorites found within rooftop dust. While this ‘cosmic dust’ obscures our view of the universe when looked at through the telescope, viewed under the microscope it becomes an important source for scientists to study the formation of the Solar system. Through the media of sculpture and film, Leimer’s exhibition alternated between domestic and planetary scales, making the vastness of the universe tangible within the intimate spaces of Charles Jencks’ Cosmic House.
The evening will start with a screening of Leimer’s film Cosmic House, which begins with a microscopic scan of dust collected from the roof of The Cosmic House before expanding into architecture and landscape. Following the screening, Sonia Leimer will be in conversation with Eszter Steierhoffer, Director of The Cosmic House. The event will conclude with a drinks reception.
Booking essential, please RSVP to [email protected].
About the publication:
The publication Cosmic Dust brings together an interview between Sonia Leimer and Eszter Steierhoffer, Director of The Cosmic House, alongside a selection of installation views and in-process images documenting the development of the artwork. The book will be available to purchase at the event.
About the artist:
Sonia Leimer lives and works in Vienna, Austria. She has presented numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally.
Her institutional solo exhibitions include Sonia Leimer at Galerie Nächst St. Stephan, Rosemarie Schwarzwälder, Wien Museion, Bolzano, Italy (with Christian Kosmas Mayer) (2025/2026); Cosmic Dust at The Cosmic House, London, UK (2024); Eroberung des Nutzlosen at Neuer Kunstverein Wien, Vienna, Austria (2022); Via San Gennaro at MAN – Museo d’Arte della Provincia di Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy (2021); KOW, Berlin, Germany (2021); Space Junk at Museion, Bolzano, Italy (2020); Via San Gennaro at ISCP – International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York, USA (2019); Autoterritorium at Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck, Austria (2017); LAMOA – Los Angeles Museum of Art, Los Angeles, USA (2014); Museion, Bolzano, Italy (2012); MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Los Angeles, USA (2012); Kunstverein Basis, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (2011); BAWAG Contemporary, Vienna, Austria (2010); and Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg, Austria (2010).
Her institutional group exhibitions include Fondazione Eres, Venice, Italy (2026); Genossin Sonne, MedienKunstVerein Dortmund, Germany (2026); How Heavy Is a City?, Triennale di Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (2025); Silber steht dir, Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz, Liechtenstein (2025); FROM ABOVE: Meteorites – Mysterious Objects from Outer Space, Munich, Germany (2024); Genossin Sonne, Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, Austria (2024); Visionary Spaces: Walter Pichler Meets Friedrich Kiesler in a Display of Sonia Leimer, Belvedere 21, Vienna, Austria (2024); the 4th Industrial Art Biennial, Croatia (2023); Lofoten International Art Festival, Norway (2022); Faking the Real at Kunsthaus Graz, Graz, Austria (2022); the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy (2021); One Decade of Female Sculptures, Kleines Haus der Kunst, Vienna, Austria (2021); Planet Love, MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria (2021); Enjoy – The mumok Collection in Change, mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, Vienna, Austria (2021); Zero Gravity: Apollo 11 and the New Notion of Space, ERES Foundation, Munich, Germany (2019); and Fly Me to the Moon: 50 Years of the Moon Landing at Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland, and Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (2019).
The Architectural Library at The Cosmic House © Sue Barr
About the Cosmic House:
The Cosmic House is an architectural engagement with the wonders of our universe. In the convivial, curious and critical spirit of Charles Jencks, The Cosmic House creates an open-minded and open-ended space for cultural engagement: alive with meaning and the ironies of our Post-Modern attitude.
We are a house museum open to the public 3 days a week. As an educational charity sited in a Grade-I listed Post-Modernist building, we host a programme of exhibitions, residencies and salons which cross architecture, science, art, philosophy, poetry and care. These develop from the three areas of Charles’ archive: History of Architecture, Cosmic Landscapes, and the Maggie’s cancer caring centres. We collaborate with local schools, global universities and independent scholars.
Ours is a social space where local and international artists, architects, scholars and bold thinkers connect with each other, and create work that speculates on how we think, feel, relate, recover and seek meaning in the cosmos.
This event is produced in collaboration between Cosmic House and Flat Time House.
The booklet was produced with support from the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano–Alto Adige.
The film was produced in collaboration with Phileas – The Austrian Office for Contemporary Art with the generous support of legero united | con-tempus.eu.