Olga Gerasymenko

Lives and works in Dortmund, Germany

Artist statement

In my artistic practice, I explore the transformation of Petrykivka painting, a traditional Ukrainian decorative art, into the realm of high academic visual culture. Originally developed as an applied folk art form with a rich symbolic background, Petrykivka has become, in my hands, a medium of independent artistic expression: a visual language capable of conveying universal ideas without losing its cultural identity. Petrykivka is characterized by a strong rhythmic structure, organic ornamentation, and symbolic references to life, light, and natural harmony. Traditionally flat and ornamental, it avoids perspective and favors bright contrasting colors, fluidity, and the expressive movement of a single brushstroke. I maintain these basic characteristics while integrating elements of academic painting, such as spatial composition, multi-layered glazes, atmospheric depth, and the contrast between light and shadow. This leads to a natural synthesis in which the ornament no longer functions as a simple decoration, but as a carrier of meaning – creating a pictorial space that encourages introspection and evokes emotional resonance. The result has already been recognized by practitioners of the traditional Petrykivka school and warmly received by a wider audience unfamiliar with the Ukrainian decorative heritage. More broadly, this work offers an example of how a local visual tradition can enter the space of a global artistic dialogue – not by diluting its essence, but by...

Artwork