In a world overwhelmed by speed and surface, Ukrainian painter and sculptor  offers a quiet yet powerful invitation: to slow down, to feel deeply, and to find presence in stillness.

Trained in the restoration of stone sculpture at Lviv Polytechnic University, her roots lie in structure and history. 

But it was through painting—particularly oil—that her artistic voice began to bloom. 

What began in childhood as a love for color and canvas evolved during her university years into a meditative practice, one where the emotional and visual intersect with quiet intensity.

Her medium of choice is no accident. “Oil paint allows time,” she says. “It lets me explore, reflect, and layer meaning. The drying process is slow, and that slowness becomes part of the work.”

One of her recent pieces, Fight, was inspired by a sculpture she encountered in Venice. 

At first, the form appeared combative—two figures entangled in struggle. 

But over time, her interpretation shifted. “What looked like a fight began to feel like love,” she reflects. “It’s fascinating how the same image can tell completely different stories depending on the viewer’s state of mind.”

Much of her inspiration comes from sculpture and human presence. Whether captured in marble or simply walking through life, people—and the emotions they evoke—remain central to her visual language. “People leave emotional impressions,” she says. “Those are what I paint.”

Her process is intuitive and layered. Often sparked by a sculpture, a memory, or a fleeting emotion, she sometimes sketches but just as often goes straight to canvas. 

From there, she builds slowly in oil, letting form and feeling emerge over time. 

The result is work that feels both timeless and contemporary—deeply personal yet universally resonant. 

Ahead of her upcoming exhibition in Insadong, taking place from September 3 to 8, she sat down for a text-based interview with Shovel. 

Q. Can you tell me a bit about your background with nationality—how did you first get into the art area?

A.
I am Ukrainian, I studied at the Polytechnic University in Lviv, specializing in the restoration of stone sculpture. My artistic journey started in childhood with painting, but I became more deeply engaged in art during my university years, where I connected both practice and study.

Q Tell me about your favorite medium and why you are drawn to it. What makes it your go-to?


A. My favorite medium is oil paint because it gives me time to explore and play with the work. I enjoy the slow drying process—it allows me to reflect, adjust, and layer emotions into the painting.

Q Your Instagram showcases some amazing pieces—can you walk me through one of your favorite recent projects?

A. 
Recently, I finished a painting titled Fight. It was inspired by a sculpture I saw in Venice last year. The piece initially appeared to me as a fight, but in my vision, it transformed into the beginning of love. I find it fascinating how the same artwork can evoke different emotions depending on perspective.

Q. Where do you draw inspiration from for your creations—other artists, nature, pop culture...?


A. I often draw inspiration from sculpture and from people who bring me different emotions. Human presence and form, whether captured in stone or in daily life, deeply influence my work.

Q Could you share your creative workflow—from concept to final render?


A. My process usually begins with a moment of inspiration—a sculpture, a scene, or a feeling that strikes me. I then make quick sketches or not. From there, I move to the canvas, building layers slowly with oil paints. I let the work evolve over time, often stepping back to reflect before adding more detail. For me, the process is about balancing structure with emotion until the piece feels alive and complete. 

Q. What has been your most challenging project to date, and how did you overcome those challenges?


A. The most challenging project for me was a painting that depicts the brutality of war in Ukraine, focusing on the suffering of women and children. It was emotionally very difficult to create, because I carried the weight of these stories while painting. To move through that challenge, I tried to channel my emotions into the work, letting the canvas become a space where pain could be expressed and transformed into something that speaks for those who cannot always speak for themselves. 

Q. How do you approach lighting, color, and composition in your works—do you have any techniques you prefer?


A. I like to use strong contrasts of light and shadow to create depth and mood. Color for me is emotional—it reflects the feeling I want to communicate more than reality itself.

Q. Do you share any process content or tutorials—like timelapses or breakdowns—on your Instagram or elsewhere?

A. Sometimes I share short process videos or photos of my workflow on Instagram. I like giving people a peek behind the scenes, but I usually keep the focus on the finished work. For me, the process is intimate.

Q. Looking ahead, are there any styles, techniques, or tools you're excited to explore next?


A. I’m really drawn to the idea of creating installations. I want to push my work into spaces where people can interact with it physically and emotionally. I’m also very open to collaborations, as working with others always brings new perspectives and unexpected directions.

Q. What advice would you give to aspiring artists trying to build their own voice and presence online?
Honestly, it’s advice I keep giving myself, too: don’t be afraid of being judged—just create more. The more you make, the clearer your voice becomes. Consistency is more important than perfection.

A. How do you hope viewers feel or interpret your work when they first encounter it?
I always hope that each person will find their own path into the work. It’s less about me telling them what to see and more about them discovering something personal within it.

Q. Have you had any memorable experiences exhibiting your work internationally or collaborating across cultures?

A. 
Yes, last year I was part of international group exhibition in Venice. It was such a meaningful experience to see how my work connected with people from different backgrounds and to exchange ideas with other artists.

Q. In your opinion, what role does your art play in shaping contemporary culture today?


My work tries to open up space for reflection—whether that’s about identity, connection, or how we experience the world. In a culture that moves so fast, I think art can be a pause, a moment to slow down and look inward or outward in new ways.

Q. Looking ahead, what questions or directions do you feel compelled to explore in your future work?

A. 
I want to explore deeper questions around how people experience space, memory, and presence. I’m curious about how art can create shared experiences while still allowing for deeply personal interpretation.