Hanna Akhtyrska is a Ukrainian artist. Currently residing in Los Angeles, California.
Visual art, like a red thread, has always run through Hanna's life, although it remained within the boundaries of her private world. However, a sudden departure from Ukraine due to the outbreak of war served as a catalyst for her entry into the public sphere. The change she endured, the loss of bearings, and the search for herself as an individual who knows what she wants to create and contribute, all served as both a challenge and an opportunity to return to painting and continue her artistic journey on a more serious level.
Hanna is diligently working on a new collection of her artwork, which will soon be showcased in an upcoming exhibition. She combines her diverse artistic experiences, incorporating elements of design, textiles, photography, and her personal journey of self-discovery into her paintings. Hanna's work reflects her deep connection to the beauty of nature, particularly the ocean, and her unique interpretation of its abstract forms and harmonious energy.
Through her artistic endeavors, Hanna strives to evoke emotions, inspire introspection, and invite viewers into a world where imagination and reality intertwine. Her upcoming exhibition promises to be a display of her artistic vision.
In 1983, her family relocated to Kyiv, Ukraine, where Hanna lived, studied, and worked until 2022. Despite her family's insistence on pursuing an education in Economics, Hanna was always drawn to creativity and design. At the age of 12, she began learning clothing construction and sewing, a passion she pursued for nearly 20 years. She also worked as a costume artist and stylist for various Ukrainian and international advertising and film projects. Working with fabrics, exploring its textures, colors, and forms, provided her with a captivating experience that she would later incorporate into her artwork.
Hanna's immense passion for travel has always played a significant role in her life. Through her journeys, she not only explores new worlds, places, cultures, and traditions but also discovers more about herself through the reflection of these new experiences. This passion led her to a new creative outlet in her life: photography. Through photography, she learned to capture the mood and energy of places and the emotions she experienced.
Hanna's thirst for knowledge and self-discovery led her down a path of exploration. In addition to her artistic pursuits, she delved into the depths of psychology, neuroscience, and esoteric studies. Driven by her insatiable curiosity, she continues to expand her understanding of the human mind, drawing inspiration from the intricate complexities of our existence.
As a certified Life Coach and practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hanna's commitment to personal growth and empowerment shines through in her artistic expressions. She harnesses her diverse skill set to create thought-provoking pieces that resonate deeply with the viewer's psyche, evoking introspection and a sense of awe.
Conversations with me:
Question: what your work is about?
Answer: My art is a conversation with God—a way to reconnect with myself and bring the unseen into form. Through abstraction, I explore the delicate balance between the mind, soul, and the divine presence within us. Each painting is an invitation to pause, reflect, and step into the silent dialogue that exists between human struggle and spiritual awakening. At the core of my work is acceptance—of the past, of pain, of the truths we fear, and the stories we try to forget. Trauma is not just suffering; it is transformation, carving new paths within us and revealing what we are meant to see.
I use acrylics and mixed techniques to translate emotions into movement, texture, and depth, allowing what is raw and unresolved to become something meaningful. My paintings are a reflection of the journey toward wholeness—a reminder that healing is not about erasing what once was, but about making peace with it. I believe the most profound spiritual connection comes from embracing all that we are—the light and the dark, the wounds and the wisdom.
My work creates a space where emotions take form, where what once felt unbearable reveals itself as necessary, and where the soul finds a voice beyond words. Through color and abstraction, I invite viewers to step into their own stories, to feel, to remember, and to recognize that everything they seek has been within them all along.