Our Artists

Aia Kora (Anastasiia Skolozdra)

Ukrainian visual artist working internationally. Participant of the 58th Venice Biennale. I explore embodiment, presence, and the states in-between.

At the heart of my artistic practice lies an exploration of the in-between — between body and landscape, form and sensation, memory and the present moment, the inner and the outer. I’m deeply drawn to how the human body — fragile, sensitive, yet profoundly resonant — enters into dialogue with space, dissolves into it, and becomes part of a broader structure of being.

My works do not aim to depict the human figure in a literal sense. Rather, they seek to evoke a state — an impression, a resonance. Through translucent layers of paint, subtle lines, and the rhythm of color, I create compositions that don’t explain, but suggest. They invite stillness, invite touch, and remind us of the way we inhabit the world — not in isolation, but through movement, transition, and transformation.

My work addresses the theme of identity in a fragmented world. In an age overwhelmed by information, where the self becomes increasingly dispersed, I turn to art as a space for reconnection — with the body, with nature, with one’s own inner continuity. I seek to create a visual language that encourages presence, reflection, and a deeper awareness of what it means to exist.

My paintings are visualized emotional states — unbound by form or language, yet charged with presence. They are not meant to be interpreted, but to be felt.

I was born in Ukraine and received a Master’s degree from the Lviv National Academy of Arts in 2012. Since 2021, I have been a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. My portfolio includes ten solo exhibitions, seven of which were held abroad. In 2019, I participated in the 58th Venice Biennale as part of the international project “The Shadow of a Dream Falls on Giardini Gardens.”

My works are part of private collections in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Australia, and the Philippines — including the collection of a Philippine princess. I currently live and work in Poland.

Kristina Mos

Kristina Mos (b. 1998, Ukraine) is a visual artist and photographer. She is a member of the Ukrainian Women Photographers Organization and currently lives and works between Ukraine and Poland. She studied at the MYPH School, specializing in contemporary and conceptual photography.

Her practice explores themes of mental health, vulnerability, corporeality, and personal memory, and is currently expanding to include questions of displacement and generational identity. Kristina works across various media, including photography, installation, object-based art, and alternative printing methods.

Vlada Lobus

Vlada Lobus is a multidisciplinary artist, born in 1994 in Dnipro, Ukraine, works in the mediums of painting, photography and installation. She is currently based in Krakow, Poland. Vlada earned a master’s degree in political economy from Shanghai University. Her stay in China had a significant impact on the formation of her personal worldview, especially after learning the Dao philosophy.

Vlada began developing her artistic career in 2022, since 2023, she has been participating in collective exhibition projects in Ukraine and Europe.

She is currently studying psychotherapy, which is directly related to her artistic activity and helps her to dive deep into the topics of complexities of mental constitution, cognitive biases, psychosomatic manifestations of trauma, and the process of cultivating resilience—an essential trait in times of war.

In her practice, she also investigates the complexities of power and the paradoxical transformations it triggers—such as diminished empathy, overconfidence, and moral hypocrisy. Drawing on her psychological research, including the theory of the power paradox, she challenges traditional Machiavellian notions of power as a tool of dominance. Instead, she examines its nuanced and cyclical nature—how power can corrupt, inspire, or redefine those who wield it.

Ultimately, her goal is to create art that encourages self-exploration, deepens awareness of the inner world, and inspires personal growth. By fostering introspection and transformation, she hopes to help individuals make more conscious choices—both for themselves and for society as a whole.

Nataliya Teslenko

Nataliya Teslenko is a self-taught Ukrainian artist based in Lake Como, Italy. Working with acrylics, resin, vintage fabrics, and lace from Cantù, silk, she creates emotionally rich mixed media artworks that explore identity, memory, and the silent stories we carry. Her creative process often begins with an old photograph or a forgotten textile—objects charged with history—which she transforms into poetic compositions.

Her work reflects both personal and collective experiences: the innocence of childhood, the trauma of war, the resilience of women, and the power of beauty in the face of destruction. Teslenko exhibits regularly in Italy and abroad and is involved in cultural projects connected to Ukraine, human rights, and artistic dialogue between cultures.

She lives between two worlds: the real one, marked by conflict, and the artistic one—where everything can still be turned into light.

Susanna Mikla

My work spans a wide range of styles and techniques, from classical to graphic portraiture, using mediums such as pencil, watercolor, oil, and acrylic. I explore both still life and abstract compositions and have extensive experience in ceramic creation and decoration. I graduated in Fine Arts from Uzhhorod, Ukraine, a city at the crossroads of Slovak and Hungarian cultures. My artistic vision is deeply influenced by this multicultural environment, blending diverse traditions, ethnic influences, and historical elements. My work primarily focuses on Ukrainian femininity, motherhood, nature as a maternal force, and the changing seasons.

Throughout the years I’ve taken part in numerous exhibitions in Italy such as:

● 2023 Art Against Violence – VitaWorld 2023, Castello di Melegnano (MI)

● 2023 Ukrainian Art in Italy – Human Rights, Centro Culturale Altinate San Gaetano (PD)

● 2022 Art Against Violence – Women’s World, Villa Reale di Monza (MB)

● 2022 Italia x Ucraina, Superstudio Village (MI)

Beyond my personal artistic practice, I am actively involved in community engagement. I collaborate with Support UA Children and Ucraina Più Milano, leading art workshops for both children and adults. I am also a member of the Associazione Libera Artisti and Garte Milano. My work is a bridge between my homeland and the world, a visual narrative of Ukrainian identity, resilience, and artistic heritage.

Tetiana Nyshchun

Born in Ukraine, I worked as a nurse in a neonatology department for 20 years, while attending several courses in figurative arts. Today I mainly dedicate myself to resin art and bas-relief, both mural and on panels. The works I create embody a deep connection with natural elements, celebrating Ukrainian traditions and identity. My portfolio includes both works of art and everyday objects embellished with a combination of different decorative techniques.

In the modern world where two-dimensional images are omnipresent, the observer seeks depth. By combining a classic bas-relief with epoxy resin, the effect of a “transparent space” around the shape is created. The resin allows you to visually immerse the shape in depth, where each layer has its own emotional and spatial meaning.

About my participations: 2024 Art Battle “Draw me a poem”, in Kiev. Awarded with a work inspired by the poem “Wings” by L. Kostenko; 2024 Group exhibition in Kiev on Independence Day; March 2025 Group exhibition of contemporary artists in Rome, event “Women in Light”

Ellaya Yefymova

Ellaya Yefymova (b. 1990, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine) is a contemporary artist based in Lisbon, whose work explores the themes of mortality, resilience, and the conscious experience of life.

After fleeing the war in Ukraine in 2022 and overcoming clinical depression, she began developing her ongoing series Memento Vivere — a contemporary reinterpretation of the Memento Mori tradition, aimed not at glorifying death, but at inspiring purposeful, conscious living. Ellaya’s art is deeply influenced by vanitas and existentialism.

She was nominated for the Portal Art Prize (Ukraine, 2020) and the Art Gemini Prize (UK, 2021), and participated in the London Art Biennale in 2023. Her work has been exhibited in Ukraine, Portugal, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom, including multiple charity exhibitions in support of Ukraine.

Vik Shpetna

Vik Shpetna is a Ukrainian-born (Chernihiv) visual artist specializing in fiber art and artisanal object design. Her work explores the relationship between material, texture, and storytelling, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.

Before relocating to Portugal in 2022 due to war, Vik built a diverse creative career, contributing to international design, media, and storytelling projects. With a background in interior and product design, she worked as a journalist and interviewer, crafting in-depth narratives on architecture and design, and led editorial projects focused on creative industries. In 2019, she began developing her artistic practice in fiber art, working with natural materials like wool and seagrass to create tactile, emotive pieces.

Vik’s artistic inspiration is deeply rooted in nature, architecture, and cultural heritage. She believes in the importance of observing the world with an open mind and finding meaning and beauty in everyday surroundings. Since moving to Portugal, she has drawn influence from the country’s landscapes, craftsmanship, and rich artistic traditions, integrating these elements into her evolving body of work.

Now based in Portugal, Vik continues to explore the intersection of memory, materiality, and contemporary craft, using her art as a bridge between past experiences and new cultural influences.

Vitaliia Kalmutska

Born in 1987 

• 1999-2005 Starokostyantiniv’s Children Art School,
• 2007-2010 Publishing and Printing Institute, Department of Graphic Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine

My way as an artist began many years ago when I connected my life with painting. My art is about everyday life, the small details, and the beauty of what I see around me. One of the main threads in my art is liminality, the transition state between one stage and the next. Since the pandemic and the war, this theme is again a focal point. As a woman and an artist, I meet a lot of challenges on my way. Being a single mother with three children, while working on my art, has not been easy. But art for me is very important. It supports me in difficult situations in my life, especially now during the hard times of the war, having fled my country.

Personal exhibitions:

• ” 35 Pro mil “, Gallery on Institutska Street, Kyiv, Ukraine,2011
• ” Infinity Focus”, Yakiw Greter’s Art-center”, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2011

Collective exhibitions:

• ” On the Fields” Gallery on Institutska Street, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2011
• ” A 4″ Karas Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Action Art of MMM Group, “Cultural Layer”, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2012
• Action Art of MMM Group, ” Cultural Layer 2, Resting “, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2012
• ” New USSR”, 8Bit Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2013
• ” 7 Stories”, Art group MMM, M16 Gallery, Canberra, Australia, 2014
• “Onde Ucrainiana”, Espaco. Quadrasoltas, Porto, Portugal, 2023
• “Day after day”, galery@19, Paderborn, Germany, 2023
• Foz’Arte, Forte de São João Baptista da Foz, Porto, Portugal, 2023