Artwrld Futurist Monika Bielskyte on a Protopian Vision for Art
Monika Bielskyte is a visionary futurist and speculative designer whose work transcends traditional boundaries of art, technology, and social theory. As the founder of Protopia Futures, she challenges conventional dystopian and utopian narratives, offering a framework for imagining inclusive, dynamic futures that embrace plurality and regenerative action.
Born in the Soviet Union and raised in Lithuania, Bielskyte's nomadic explorations across over 100 countries have informed her unique perspective on global interconnectedness. Her multidisciplinary background, spanning from creative direction to cutting-edge technological innovation, allows her to bridge the gap between imagination and real-world application.
Bielskyte's Protopian vision, rooted in the celebration of diversity and life-centric design, has resonated with leading institutions from Hollywood—where she worked as a futurist consultant for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—to Silicon Valley.
Her speaking and advisory work has encompassed projects for the BBC, DreamWorks, Google, Huawei, IDEO, L’Oréal, McKinsey, Mexico City, Meta, Microsoft, MTN, Nike, SKY, TATA, Technicolor, Telefonica, UAE, UNESCO, Universal, Warner Media, and WEF. Monika has also given lectures at academic and scientific institutions including CERN, Rockefeller University, the Royal Society, and the Royal College of Art.
By advocating for futures literacy and challenging established power structures, Bielskyte invites us to reconsider our relationship with technology, nature, and each other. Her approach offers a timely perspective on shaping a more equitable and sustainable world.