' +
'
What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
I was inspired by an inner search for a true language to express the experiences and emotions that words could not contain. Since childhood, I have perceived art as a living space for deep emotional and psychological exploration. This led me to create my own technique, combining oil painting, gilding, and bas-relief. My journey in art spans over 15 years of working with form, symbolism, and profound emotional depth. For me, creativity is not a profession — it is a way of being in the world and touching what is truly real.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
I came to art not through classical academic education, but through a deep personal journey and professional knowledge. I hold a degree in Pedagogy (NPU named after M.P. Drahomanov), a degree in Personnel Management (MAUP), and completed postgraduate studies at NUBiP of Ukraine. In addition, I have completed a number of individual certified courses in psychology, existential therapy, and neurolinguistic programming (NLP), which became an important foundation of my creative practice. For over 15 years, I have been developing my own artistic technique, combining oil painting, gilding, and bas-relief into a multilayered symbolic style. In my work, I explore themes of inner transformation, deep emotions, and invisible forces that change spaces and influence consciousness. For me, art is not just a profession — it is a way of being exactly where I belong in this world.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
What sets my work apart is the deep symbolism and the holistic emotional impact it has on both the viewer and the space. In my paintings, there are no random elements — every texture, every line, and every shade carries an intentional meaning. I work with both the conscious and subconscious levels of perception, creating spaces that awaken deep emotions and inner resonance. My technique is simply a tool for conveying multilayered meanings, where light, color, and form become living carriers of symbols.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Inspiration comes to me through deep inner practice — Kundalini yoga, prayer, presence, and silence. These are not images I invent, but complete visions that arrive as answers. In those moments, I don’t just see the work — I clearly feel how it should be created, both technically and energetically. My personal transformation opens a space of knowing that cannot be accessed from the outside. Each of my artworks is the result of an inner process, not just a creative decision.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
My artistic approach is based on inner transformation. Each work is born from a deep personal process — the result of confronting and integrating negative aspects within myself. Through this inner alchemy, the painting becomes a carrier of a purified state — presence, clarity, and inner balance. I seek to transmit this state to the viewer or collector, so that the artwork acts not just as a visual object, but as a living field that influences the inner space. My goal is not to depict emotions, but to evoke a shift — toward stillness, strength, and a return to what is essential.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
My creative process combines spontaneity with deep inner logic. I often work on several paintings simultaneously, each one an independent art object with its own presence and meaning, not directly connected by storyline. However, on a deeper level, my works are energetically linked — they continue, complement, or complete a certain internal process. This allows me to convey complex, multilayered states that cannot be captured in a single piece.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
I explored different techniques to find the most suitable way to express deep emotional states. As a result, I developed my own approach based on the combination of bas-relief, oil painting, and gilding. When I want to convey energy, power, and expressive force, I work through bas-relief and texture. When the focus is on deep inner immersion, I use oil painting and delicate multilayered glazing. Every technical choice in my work serves the purpose of transmitting the precise emotional and energetic state intended for each piece.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
The innovative aspect of my work lies primarily in the stylistic construction of composition. I create my pieces based on an inner sense of space, symbols, and emotional focus, rather than following classical academic rules. The technique — a combination of bas-relief, oil painting, and gilding — s and enhances this approach. All ideas for my paintings come from the subconscious; I do not use external references, borrowed images, or ready-made solutions. Each work is a direct manifestation of internal experience and state.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
I feel most comfortable when I have my own creative space and the freedom to manage my time according to my inner rhythm. This is essential for me, because the artistic process requires inner silence, freedom, and periods of self-renewal. Only in such conditions can I work deeply and create pieces that carry real meaning and energy.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop or in your own workshop? And in this space, how do you organize your creative work?
I work in my private studio at home. It is important for me to have a personal space where I can focus and stay connected to the inner creative process. I organize my working time independently and create when I feel strength, energy, and inner readiness. This approach allows me to preserve the depth and authenticity of each piece I produce.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
Before the war, I regularly attended public art events and participated in exhibitions and charity auctions. In particular, I annually presented my works at Kamaliya’s Charity Night Auction. Meeting collectors and participating in such events allowed me to expand my network and better understand the emotional impact of art on people. However, due to ongoing attacks and security risks, this opportunity has become significantly limited today.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
Perhaps my words may sound bold, but I genuinely feel that my paintings have their own destiny and, in time, will be presented at major international auctions. In my experience, my works have often found their own way — appearing on magazine covers, entering the collections of well-known individuals, and reaching new owners without aggressive promotion. My paintings live by their own inner laws, and simple marketing strategies do not apply to them. They find those who are ready to hear their true story.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
The theme of my latest works is not limited by a specific form — for me, the most important aspect is the energy of the symbol, which can manifest in any image. I am particularly drawn to living beings — birds, fish, and people. Through their gaze, a special presence emerges: they seem to come alive on the canvas and continue to look into the space around them, creating a sense of silent interaction. Flowers also hold a special place in my work — they are part of my genetic heritage, as I recently discovered that my grandmother used to paint flowers wherever she could. For me, every symbol matters not by its form, but by the energy and meaning it carries.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
My most important exhibition experience was my first solo show, "Rai" ("Paradise"), which took place in 2011 in Kyiv with the of the Foundation for the Promotion of Arts of Ukraine. The exhibition was initiated by an art critic who, after seeing my works, proposed not only organizing the show but also creating a catalog. This experience came almost without my direct initiative — it felt as if the space itself pushed me into a creative reality. At that time, I had no plans to devote my life to art: I had behind me ten years of management experience and many years of psychological practice. However, the "Rai" exhibition became the beginning of a completely new chapter — a return to my true self through art.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
I would not aspire to create any famous work from art history. For me, every true artwork carries the energy, experience, and inner world of its creator. Reproducing someone else's energy feels unnatural to me. As an artist, my purpose is not to repeat another’s vision, but to create my own space and presence through art.
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
It would be a coffee meeting with Van Gogh — to identify the subconscious markers that triggered his moments of genius, since I studied NLP for two years 🙂. I'm not interested in the myth; I'm interested in the mechanism. That edge where the image hasn't yet formed, but something inside has already begun to move — that’s what I’d want to understand.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli 
