
Nadya Tolokonnikova, a founding member of the feminist art collective Pussy Riot, is a Russian musician, conceptual artist, and political activist. Born on November 7, 1989, in Norilsk, she studied at Moscow State University and was involved in provocative art performances with her then-husband Pyotr Verzilov as part of the group Voina.
Tolokonnikova gained international recognition after being arrested for 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred' following a performance in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in 2012. She was sentenced to two years in prison but was released early in 2013. Since then, she has continued her activism and art, including performances and collaborations with other artists.