Speed and Space, 2020

Dmytro Shavala  

Dmytro Shavala (b. 1994) is a contemporary Ukrainian artist known for his dynamic wooden sculptures that explore the relationship between geometry, color, form, and space. Based in Lviv, Shavala developed his technical expertise in woodwork at the Joseph Stanko Art School and the Lviv National Academy of Arts, later expanding his practice through an intensive workshop at the renowned Fonderia Artistica Versiliese in Pietrasanta, Italy.

Drawn to abstract sculpture early in his career, Shavala developed a deeply intellectual and sensory approach to form. His practice explores the aesthetic possibilities and cultural identity of Ukrainian wooden sculpture, reinterpreting its traditions through a contemporary and conceptual language.

Combining natural wood tones with vibrant, glossy colors and precisely constructed geometric structures, Shavala creates sculptures that possess an optical vibrancy reminiscent of Op Art while maintaining a strong sense of spatial depth. Repetition plays a central role in his compositions, with recurring forms organized around visual focal points that create rhythm, movement, and tension within the work.

His practice reflects ongoing ideas of development, transformation, and personal evolution. Alongside wood, Shavala also experiments with bronze casting, extending his exploration of material, weight, permanence, and form.

His work has been exhibited internationally, including at Artrooms London in 2019, and is held in private collections across the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Spain.

Fonderia Artistica Versiliese Award, 2019