Yuliya Martynova

Migration Story of Two, Ghosts, Original painting, Landscape, Abstract

2023

Yuliya is a mix media artist working on several signature collections. She draws beauty in her surroundings and not afraid to venturing out to explore new directions. Drawings, oil painting, watercolour on paper and canvas, her varied work is seamlessly united by a distinct flow and unmistakably unique elegance. I was born in Kazakhstan (Aktau) on the shores of the Caspian Sea in a small oily town in the middle of the desert. Spent most of my happy childhood summers in leafy North Kazakhstan (Shuchinsk) at grand mother's farm house, foraging in the forest, swimming in the lakes and looking after animals. Later in life my parents (both engineers) chose for me to go study Law driven by prestige of the occupation. Art classes was a parallel activity during my school years since the age of 10 and despite high praising from the teachers art was dismissed as a career direction due to being unpractical. I have then spent 15 years in quasi legal career in banking, oil and gas, private clients and consulting industries both in Kazakhstan and the UK before one day deciding to abandon the office all together to give myself a chance to become a serious artist. The subject matter is often to lift the weight of existence and find a thread that pulls you forward to evolve and change yourself or your attitude towards challenging circumstances in life. ​Inspiration comes within. The final outcome of the artwork is often uncertain. Where do you draw a last line is existential to every piece I consider finished. It starts with need to lock myself in the studio room and find way to the outer places within.