Sarmite Malina was born in 1960 in Akniste, Latvia. She creates installations, performances, books and graphic design works, often involving other Latvian artists such as Ojārs Pētersons, Andris Breze, Juris Boiko and Aija Zarina. Her first performance, Cages (1987), coincides with an important moment of awakening for Latvian contemporary art; at that time, she was working with Oļegs Tillbergs and Sergejs Davidovs. She was responsible for the design section for Avots and has collaborated with the magazine Diena.