About

“ For me, creativity is what gives life meaning. I simply cannot imagine my life without art. ”
— Lu

Biography

I was born in 1971 in Kyiv region, Ukraine, graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in 1994. At the beginning of my creative life I worked as a designer, but in 2014 I devoted myself completely to painting. I had a successful career in Ukraine with numerous solo and group exhibitions in Ukraine and Europe.

I participated in a large project with Ukrainian artists at the Venice Biennale in Italy, where I exhibited three large works from my series "Gardens of Mysteries". These works were exhibited in Venice, Milan, Florence and Rome from 2022 to 2023.

Unfortunately, I had to leave my homeland due to Russia's attack on Ukraine. Since June 2022 I have been living and making art in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. My art explores human nature and personality, often expressed through symbolism and expressive forms. I find inspiration in a variety of sources, including ancient Roman art, modernism, as well as more recent symbolism and surrealism. My works are part of private collections around the world, I participated in international competitions and held personal exhibitions.

about my art

I started my first attempts at professional drawing while studying at the Academy of Arts. Where I studied architecture course. The development of spatial vision, the study of academic painting and drawing, composition, and communication in the circle of artists - all influenced me and laid the seed of a constant need for self-expression and self-realization through painting. I devoted a significant period of my life to graphic and advertising design and worked in many advertising companies in Kyiv. He had experience working as a character designer at an animation studio. But I always knew that drawing is what keeps me going, what brings true joy and satisfaction. So, since 2014, I have fully devoted myself exclusively to art. By that time I had already participated in some exhibitions. (My first personal exhibition took place back in 1996 at the "Irena" gallery in Kyiv).

2022 is a terrible year for all Ukrainians. Having overcome a long way, fleeing from war, I set foot on the shores of Canada. Only at the end of the year did I find the strength to restore mine artistic practice. My first major painting in the beautiful country of Newfoundland and Labrador was called "Home" 2022, which depicts a woman with snails against the background of a burning house. Recently, I have created dozens of paintings here. Participation in several ACC exhibitions in St.John’s in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, I spent the month of July at the Pouch Cove Art Residence, NL. It was a fruitful and unforgettable experience. My paintings on the Artsy platform are presented by the James Beard Gallery.

My early works were very expressive and bright in both color and style. At that time, I was very inspired by early 20th century modernist artists Matisse, Picasso, Gauguin and Modigliani. I presented these works at 5 personal exhibitions in Odesa, Kyiv and Lviv. Later, my painting studies culminated in a series of works that I exhibited in galleries Ukraine and Europe. For example, the series of works in 2019 was called "Big ears, or Aristocracy of the inner world." This is a phantasmagoric series of works where all people were depicted by Hares. This is a kind of game with the viewer who, looking at the pictures, absolutely believes in the authenticity of these heroes.

In 2019, I was invited to Warsaw (Poland) to create a mural based on my sketch. The 2020 series of works "Garden of Secrets" is inspired by the ancient art of Ancient Rome. Works from this series were published in 2021 by The Aerogramme Center for Arts and Culture in the American art magazine “The Mobile Library”. Three large works from this series were presented during 2022 as part of the VITA UKRAINE project in Italy in the cities of Venice, Milan, Rome and Florence. In 2021, I created several works in the style of retro and geometric shapes, inspired by the artist Escher. As for the meanings that I put into the paintings, each of my works has a philosophical and symbolic subtext. I try to stir up the viewer's imagination and thoughts, to enable him to "read" what he saw and feel his own emotions from art.

Exhibitions and events

  • Exhibition “Woman 2024” James Baird Gallery, Pouch Cove, NL, Canada

  • Art Practice at Pouch Cove Art Residency during July 2024. Paintings featured on Artsy by James Baird Art Gallery NL, Canada.

  • “Self-Portrait”, ART Centre ACC, St. John’s, Canada, 2023

  • “Final exhibition of the year” (to the 60th anniversary of the Art Association NL), St. John’s, Canada, 2022

  • "Ucraina TERRA LIBERA", Venice Art Gallery, 2022, As part of the 59th Venice Biennale

  • Retrospective exhibition in Milan, Venice, and Rome

  • Catalog Mobile Library "Mythology" The AEROGRAMME CENTER for ARTS and CULTURE, USA, 2021

  • Virtual exhibition "Portrait", ART SHOW INTERNATIONAL GALLERY, USA, 2021

  • Virtual exhibition "Landscapes", ART SHOW INTERNATIONAL GALLERY, USA, 2021

  • Gallery "Colors", Personal exhibition, Kyiv, 2021

  • Tadzio Gallery, Exhibition "Kisses", Kyiv, 2021

  • Museum of History, Kyiv Exhibition "One Day After" Kyiv, 2020

  • FICE Foundation, Warsaw, 2019

  • ART Center AIZONE Kyiv, 2019

  • Gallery "Location" Solo exhibition, Kyiv, 2017

  • Gallery "Stuka" Exhibition "Unimagined Stories" Lviv 2016

  • Personal exhibition "Odesa Stained Glass" Art - the center of Odesa in 2015

  • Personal exhibition "Road to the Sun" Art Center - Markiv 2014 Odesa

  • Personal exhibition "Desserts" Art Gallery - Au Petit Brussels, 2014 Kyiv

  • Exhibitions Gallery - Griffin 2006 Kyiv

  • Exhibitions Gallery - Griffin 2005 Kyiv

  • Exhibition Gallery - Irina 2004 Kyiv

  • Solo exhibition in Sozopol, Bulgaria

  • Exhibition Gallery - Lavra, 1998 Kyiv

  • Solo exhibition Gallery - Irina, 1996 Kyiv

  • Exhibition "Autumn Collection", 1995 Kyiv

  • Studying at the National Academy of Arts and Architecture (1988-1994) Kyiv