Olena Grishyna
Ukrainian artist
Olena Grishyna (born 1986, Kyiv, Ukraine) is a contemporary Ukrainian artist specializing in painting and Petrykivka decorative art. Her work delicately balances symbolism and metaphor, exploring themes of heritage, loss, resilience, and self-discovery. In Olena’s creations, color serves as a vessel of meaning - emerging first to form the foundation of the composition, with its interplay crafting a unique mood and narrative. This modern perspective reinterprets traditional Petrykivka motifs, infusing them with new resonance.
Olena began her artistic journey in 2020. In 2022, due to the war, she relocated with her children to Chemnitz, Germany, where she opened her own art studio-gallery, “Olena Grishyna | Ukrainisches Kunstatelier,” in 2024. Within this space, she creates paintings, holds workshops, showcases her work, and operates as a commercial artist.
Her first solo exhibition took place in July 2023 in Amsterdam. Today, her paintings and ceramics are part of private collections in over 20 countries worldwide.
In 2024, aiming to broaden the reach of her art, Olena released a limited collection of silk scarves inspired by her paintings. This project reflects her aspiration to make the meanings embedded in her works accessible to a wider audience.
Since 2023, Olena has held around 30 workshops for over 220 participants, significantly expanding her teaching endeavors and inspiring the development of her own online course, which she is currently actively working on.
Her artistry harmoniously blends profound symbolism with a contemporary approach to Ukrainian traditions.
EDUCATION
2009
Graduated from the National Aviation University with a degree in aviation technical translation(Kyiv, Ukraine)
EXHIBITION ACTIVITY/EVENTS
2024
Group exhibition “2+2 = WIR - same same not different”, Atelier im alten Kesselhaus(Chemnitz, Germany)
2023
Presentation of artworks at office “The European Capital of Culture Chemnitz GmbH” (Chemnitz, Germany)
Presentation of artworks at the Green Party office(Chemnitz, Germany)
Solo exhibition “Petrykivka - Ukrainian soul”, LYCKA Buurtkamer(Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Artist Statement
My work is a reflection of my inner world - a mirror of the emotions and experiences that I channel through my paintings and ceramics.
The world I create in my art is often surreal, sometimes even fantastical, serving as a personal refuge during this time of displacement, after losing my home.
The world I create in my art is often surreal, sometimes even fantastical, serving as a personal refuge during this time of displacement, after losing my home.
Themes of loss, belonging, freedom, self-discovery, uncertainty, fragility, and the transience of life are central to my artistic practice. These deeply personal and poignant subjects emerge through symbolism and layered metaphors, allowing me to explore the complex emotions tied to my own roots and identity.
To emphasize my Ukrainian heritage, I incorporate the technique of Petrykivka painting, a traditional Ukrainian art form, as a vital element in my work.
This not only serves as a tribute to my cultural origins but also strengthens the narrative of resilience, identity, and the search for belonging in uncertain times.
This not only serves as a tribute to my cultural origins but also strengthens the narrative of resilience, identity, and the search for belonging in uncertain times.
Olena Grishyna | Ukrainisches Kunstatelier
Contacts