Iryna Maksymova (b. 1991, Kolomyia) is a Ukrainian artist who explores subjects that touch her personally. The story line, colour contrasts and characters are so simple at first sight, but they reflect the deepest part of her inner feelings. Every work has a voice, a manifesto, it’s a call to action. Such as women silhouettes which are present in a lot of her works and are so powerful that they can convey both feminine and masculine characteristics. In the animals that she paints she wants to give them a voice which they don’t usually have. She wants to give voice to feminism, sexism, ecology, any cruelty towards people or animals. She questions why be silent if you’ve got something to say! Through her practice she seeks to influence people and to make them reflect not only on the visual part but also on the idea and concept that might motivate a change and to be changed.
Solo Exhibitions include Pieces, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2023); Pieces, Svitlo, Lviv, Ukraine (2023);Everywhere I look I see your eyes, Casae Studio Granados, Barcelona, Spain (2023); She Will Win, Circle Culture Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2022); Kalyna, The Dzyga Art Centre, Lviv, Ukraine (2022); Kalyna, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2022); Big Opening, Lviv, Ukraine (2021); Wild cats in circus, Apartment 31, Lviv, Ukraine (2020).
Group Exhibitions include Enter Art Fair, Kristin Hjellegjerde, Copenhagen, Denmark (2023); Art Busan, HOFA Gallery, Busan, South Korea (2023); Ukrainian Dream, We & The World Kozyteskyi Charity Foundation, London, UK (2023); Dallas Art Fair, Sapar Contemporary, Dallas, USA (2023); NEWDREAM WORLD, Sapar Contemporary, New York, USA (2023); Art Central Art Fair, HOFA Gallery, Hong Kong, China (2023); Everywhere I look I see your eyes, Casa Estudio Granado, Barcelona, Spain(2023); Untitled Miami Beach, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Miami, USA (2022);Uprising, Schloss Görne, Berlin, Germany(2022); The Horses, Galeria Herrero De Tejada, Madrid, Spain (2022);The Flow, Fir Gallery, Beijin, China (2022);Paper, Beers, London, UK(2022); Odesia, Contemporary Cluster Art Gallery, Rome, Italy(2022); NADA, Miami, USA(2022); Women and other wild creatures: matrilineal tales, Sapar Contemporary, New York, Paper, Beers Gallery, London, UK (2022); Uprising, Schloss Görne, Berlin, Germany (2022); Explosion, Lviv, Ukraine (2021); Shit Art Show 4, LA, USA (2021); 19karengallery, Australia (2021); Conscious, Kyiv, Ukraine (2021); Weserhalle, Berlin, Germany (2021); Back to School, Shit Art Club, Los Angeles, USA (2021); Explosion, Lviv, Ukraine; Arch & Posed, Online shows (2012).
Highlights and Awards
Iryna Maksymova has been the recipient of the 2023 Residency programme at the Chapelle Sté. Catherine, Loire, France ; the 2022 La Maison de Temps, Kauffenheim, France and the 2022 Hangar, Lisbon, Portugal ; the 2021 Vysokko Richka, Ukraine. Maksymova’s work can be found in international public collections such as the Bunker Artspace Museum, the W Art Foundation and Hong Art Museum, Suzhou, as well as private collections in Ukraine, USA, Australia, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, China, Belgium, Sweden, Scotland, Taiwan, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, Czech Republic, Thailand, Netherlands, Latvia.