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Olena Grishyna
Ukrainian artist
Olena Grishyna (born 1986, Kyiv, Ukraine) is a contemporary Ukrainian artist working in decorative painting and the traditional technique of Petrykivka painting. Her artistic practice balances between symbolism and metaphor, exploring themes of roots, loss, resilience, and the search for identity.
In her works, color becomes a carrier of meaning, it appears first, forming the foundation of the composition, while its interactions create atmosphere and emotional depth. Through this approach, the artist reinterprets traditional forms of Petrykivka painting, giving them a new, contemporary resonance.
Olena’s artistic journey began in 2020. In 2022, as a result of the full-scale war in Ukraine, she relocated with her children to Chemnitz, Germany. In 2024, she opened her own art studio and gallery - Olena Grishyna | Ukrainisches Kunstatelier , where she creates paintings, works on commissioned projects, conducts workshops, and presents her artworks.
Her first solo exhibition took place in July 2023 in Amsterdam. Today, her paintings and ceramic works are part of private collections in more than 20 countries worldwide.
At the end of 2024, Olena presented a limited-edition collection of silk scarves inspired by her paintings, expanding the dialogue between art and everyday life.
An important part of her artistic practice is the promotion of Ukrainian cultural heritage. In 2023–2025, she conducted around 50 Petrykivka painting workshops, which later became the foundation for her author’s online course, launched in October 2025.
EDUCATION
2009
Graduated from the National Aviation University with a degree in aviation technical translation(Kyiv, Ukraine)
EXHIBITION ACTIVITY/EVENTS
2026
Personal exhibition "Flowers of Memory", MacPaw Space(Kyiv, Ukraine)
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 works are a way of speaking about my inner state through images, color, and symbols. I work with painting and ceramics, creating worlds that may sometimes appear unreal or fairy-like, yet are rooted in deeply personal experience.
After losing my home, this artistic space became a place of refuge for me. Through my works, I reflect on themes of memory, roots, freedom, uncertainty, and fragility - experiences that become especially intense during times of change and forced displacement. I do not aim to tell stories directly; rather, I invite the viewer to sense them through atmosphere and imagery.
Working with Petrykivka painting, I approach it as a living language connected to my Ukrainian roots and personal history. By reinterpreting this traditional technique within a contemporary context, I seek to preserve its emotional depth while giving it a new resonance today.
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