Maria Vashchuk

Born in 1985 in Kyiv (Ukraine), the daughter of a tailor and accountant.

"I spent my childhood in the Soviet Fashion House in Kyiv and in various workshops where my father worked. As the only child in the family, I had room for my own fantasy world."

Maria Vashchuk's background shimmers through in her layered work. For example, her use of color is typical of the former Soviet Ukraine. And the depiction of textiles was influenced by her fashion-minded home environment. Starting from emotions, the canvas for Maria Vashchuk is a way of connecting psychological and societal issues with her artistic practice. The artistry comes organically after, partly because of, Vashchuk's studies (Ph.D.) and psychology practice.

Reflected in a broader social context, the viewer is given an insight into the intimate life of the artist. Where relationships, family, identity, and love play a significant role without literally portraying them. The exposure of personal processes is shielded by literal and figurative layers that require individual interpretation. For example, faces are left out in portraits, and the story becomes something universal. Composition and human connections/interactions thus become more prominent in her oeuvre.

Maria Vashchuk's work has been exhibited in various shows in the Netherlands, in Belgium, and has been selected as a part of the LIA program in Leipzig, Germany, where the artist was a resident (2020-2021). The artist lives and works in Haarlem, the Netherlands.