Artist Statement

I create large-format watercolors in the style of magical realism, drawing inspiration from Slavic and Germanic mythology. At the heart of my paintings are women placed in surreal, natural settings. For example, in ‘Morning Dream’, a sleeping red-haired woman’s face is shown in close-up, framed by brown and green branches woven into a bird’s nest. Inside the nest lie bluish speckled eggs, while a gilded alarm clock rests at the edge, foretelling her imminent and unsettling awakening.

The sound of my paintings is silence — perhaps the rustle of leaves, the whisper of pages turning, or the distant murmur of waves. Their scent is damp earth mixed with the mustiness of an old library. I chose watercolor as my primary medium because it offers the gentlest sensory experience. It lacks the thick, heavy texture and strong smell of oil paints, and it doesn’t scrape or rustle like pastels or pencils.

Many women, including myself, live in a state of sensory and emotional overload, surrounded by noise pollution and navigating constant change — wars, natural disasters, political shifts, and economic crises. Our life no longer follows a clear or logical flow. We often feel small against the enormity of global events, losing faith in ourselves and our ability to control even the smallest aspects of our lives.

In my paintings, I capture a state of rest and balance, fleeting as they may be. These moments are vital — they provide us with the strength, resources, and courage to face what lies ahead. Through my work, I explore how to navigate change while preserving one’s sense of self.