The shawl, floral neon painting, 2023

Olha Vlasova  

The edges are painted
Some parts of the picture glow under blue light

This painting immerses the viewer in the nostalgic memories of the artist's childhood, a time when she first selected fabric for her doll's clothes from an array of sewing scraps. The work's palette reflects the colorful hues of her grandmother's shawl, which captured the artist's attention. The excitement of the variety of patterns and colors filled her heart with joy and ignited a desire to create.

The artist wants the viewer to ask themselves: Why do we find one thing beautiful and not another? Is beauty only in the harmony of colors and shapes, or does it also include the associations, memories, and emotions that these images evoke in us? The painting reminds us of the purity of childhood perception and how our early impressions continue to shape our understanding of beauty into adulthood.

ABOUT ARTIST

Olha Vlasova is a Ukrainian artist who has been passionate about painting since childhood. She received her higher art education in painting and costume design, which heavily influenced her work. Ornamentation also plays a significant role in her art.

Olha experiments with various techniques and materials, but she finds that acrylics offer boundless possibilities for imagination and exploration.

As a professional artist, Olha is deeply committed to exploring the themes of female sexuality and self-worth. Her goal is to illustrate that a woman's appearance does not diminish her importance or autonomy. Olha asserts that a woman's appearance is her choice, not a means to achieve goals at the expense of men.

As an artist, Olha focuses her research on conveying the personal experiences of women who encounter condescension and the diminution of their value due to sensitivity and femininity. She conveys that the concepts of femininity and seriousness, playfulness and rationality are not mutually exclusive and can coexist.

Olha's work actively participates in the discussion on tolerance and the pursuit of creating a safe space for self-expression. She incorporates themes of new sincerity in her work, embodying the desire to be oneself without the fear of encountering mockery, sarcasm, or societal labeling.

She has extensive artistic experience, and her works are held in private collections in the USA, Norway, Denmark, France, and Ukraine.