Photo: Valerie Maltseva

In loving memory

Andrei Siclodi (* May 5, 1972 in Bucharest, † August 18, 2025 in Hall in Tirol)

We mourn the loss of Andrei Siclodi, director of Künstler*innenhaus Büchsenhausen, member of the Office Ukraine steering group, esteemed colleague, and dear friend.

Andrei studied art history and comparative literature in Innsbruck and worked as a curator, author, editor, and cultural worker. He was the founding director of the Fellowship Program for Art and Theory at Künstler*innenhaus Büchsenhausen in Innsbruck, a position he held until his passing. Under his leadership, Büchsenhausen became an internationally recognized place for artistic exchange and critical discourse, hosting more than 100 international fellows since 2003.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Künstler*innenhaus Büchsenhausen has become a contact point for Ukrainian artists and cultural workers, thanks to Andrei’s involvement in the Austria-wide initiative Office Ukraine. At the inception of the platform, when representatives of the art and cultural sector first came together to explore ways of supporting colleagues from Ukraine, he joined the effort without hesitation, helping to establish Office Ukraine and ensuring that Künstler*innenhaus Büchsenhausen became one of its host institutions. Owing in part to his own migration biography, he deeply understood the urgency of assisting those whose lives and professional networks had been shattered by the war.

As a member of the Office Ukraine steering group, he contributed to shaping the platform to meet the evolving needs of the community and worked closely with the Innsbruck team to provide support and opportunities for Ukrainian artists and cultural workers seeking refuge in western Austria.

Andrei was known for his curiosity, critical reflection, courage, empathy, and generosity. He stood up for others, shared his knowledge freely, and inspired us through his warmth, humour, and openness. His tenacity in pursuing what he believed in, as well as his ability to connect people, left a lasting mark on all who worked with him. 

We are deeply grateful for his many contributions and would like to preserve his memory with profound gratitude for everything he has given to our Office Ukraine community.

We will miss him dearly.

Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to his family and loved ones.

Veronika Riedl, Anastasiia Diachenko and Nayra Hammann (Office Ukraine Innsbruck)

Larissa Agel, Michaela Geboltsberger, Simon Mraz, Georg Schöllhammer, Karin Zimmer, Esther Brandl, Natalia Gurova, Sasha Horbatiuk, Susanne Jäger, Mark Napadenski, Andreas Wesle, Ania Zorh (Office Ukraine Vienna)

Margarethe Makovec, Anton Lederer, Nastia Khlestova, Johanna Hierzegger, Olia Fedorova (Office Ukraine Graz)