Iryna is a multimedia artist residing in Indianapolis, IN. Born and raised in Izmail, Ukraine, she went to an art school at the age of 7 and began working with clients since she was 15 years old.
In 2015 she came to Indianapolis to pursue a BFA in Illustration from Herron School of Art. During that time she began exploring Ukrainian folklore in her art practice. In her spare time Iryna does research on traditions of craftsmanship in Ukraine, including but not limited to embroidery techniques, weaving, sewing, beadwork, ceramics, traditional folk singing, etc.
She regularly returns home, to spend time with family and friends, engage with the Ukrainian art scene, visit museums and historic landmarks, and buy Ukrainian literature.
Since the beginning of the full scale invasion of ᵣussia in Ukraine, Iryna has worked to create a website that served as a directory and allowed people to find and support Ukrainian creators who lost their jobs by purchasing their work. The project served its purpose and has allowed for hundreds of artists to find buyers in a time of economic strain.
Now Iryna is a board member of a local non-profit, Ukrainian Society of Indiana, taking part in cultural and educational events aimed to provide aid to organizations in Ukraine and expose Hoosiers to Ukrainian culture and causes.
Since 2023 Iryna's art has taken a drastic turn, moving away from painting to illustration through embroidery. Currently, in 2024, her work is focused around rethinking the symbolism of a traditional ritual object, a runner called rushnyk.
Awards:
2024-2026 - Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship
Exhibitions:
2024 - Storage Space No Theme For The Holidays Group Show
2024 - Wet Wet Mud II @ Mystery Fun Club
2023 - Storage Space Best of The Midwest Group Show
2023 - Watercolor Society of Indiana Member’s Exhibit
2023 - Global Village Arts Expo
2022 - Watercolor Society of Indiana Juried Exhibition
2022 - Watercolor Society of Indiana Member’s Exhibit
2021-2015 - None were exciting enough to report about
Notable Clients:
Eli Lilly (Indiana)
IU Foundation (Indiana)
Orthodontic Details, LLC (Indiana)