OKSANA SHULGA
artist

Artist and illustrator.

A member of the National Society of Pastelists of Russia and a graduate of the A. N. Kosygin Moscow Textile University, specializing in textile design. She completed an advanced training program in painting at the I. E. Repin St. Petersburg Academy of Arts in 2016.


Works in painting, graphic art, and mixed media. Key areas of focus include landscape, animal art, and still life.


Recipient of a winner’s diploma in the "Genre Scene" category at the 10th International "Art-Bridge-Watercolor" Biennial (Yusupov Palace, St. Petersburg, 2019) and a second-place diploma in the "Portrait" category in 2017.


Born in 1976 in Moscow, where she currently lives and works. She is actively involved in exhibitions. Since 2019, she has been actively engaged in illustration and has illustrated nine books. Her works are held in private collections in Russia, Finland, the USA, Italy, and the UK.


At the heart of her artistic quest is movement, the depth of color, space, and the sense of a living presence.




Artist Statement


I'm interested in the moment when a color ceases to be just a color.

Painting can make visible things that normally cannot be seen.

You can't see the wind.

But you can see him walking through the grasses.

You can't see the air.

But you can feel it between the two figures.

For me, color is not a means of describing a shape, but a way to convey a feeling. I am drawn to the depth of color, the interaction of reflections, the movement of air, the tension between forms, the presence of light and shadow, and that special state when a painting is perceived as a single living space.


For me, feelings and mood are important. Often, it’s not the object itself that matters, but the impression it leaves. The same applies to colour. I am a follower of the traditions of the colouristic school of painting; for me, it’s important to find the harmony of a unique state and to convey character.

As for illustrations, the most important thing for me is to convey the hero’s feelings — not just through a portrait, but by using all the means available: composition, rhythm, textures, the character of the lines, shadow and light.


It is precisely this search that lies at the heart of my creative work




Education:


  • 2016: Advanced training course in painting and drawing I. E. Repin Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg
  • 1994-1999: Master of Arts degree, Moscow


Exhibitions:


  • 2026: «Moscow Interioor and Design Week». Manege Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow, Russia
  • 2026: Solo exhibition «Movement», Kotka, Finland
  • 2025: «Moscow Interioor and Design Week». Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKH), Moscow, Russia
  • 2025: «The Art of Printmaking. Drawing». Exhibition Hall of the Moscow Union of Artists. Kuznetsky most, Moscow, Russia
  • 2025: Christmas exhibition «Yolki-Palki». Exhibition Hall of the Moscow Union of Artists. Arts Center «Fligel», Moscow, Russia
  • 2025: «Crossings» — 15th Pastel Exhibition of NPS. «Gallery of classical photography», Moscow, Russia
  • 2025: Exhibition and workshop «Horse running», Lapua, Finland
  • 2025: Solo exhibition «The colour of the Sea», Alajärvi, museum Nelimarkka, Villa Väinölä, Finland
  • 2024: Solo exhibition and workshop «Horse running», Soini, Finland
  • 2023: Solo exhibition «At the racetrack», Alajärvi, Finland
  • 2020: Internet exhibition, Japan International Watercolor Institute, Japan
  • 2019: X international Biennale «Art-Bridge-Watercolor», Yusupov palace, St. Petersburg
  • 2018: «Dance of flowers», Moscow
  • 2018: «Caras de Russia», Museum of watercolor, Toluca, Mexico
  • 2017: IX international Biennale «Art-Bridge-Watercolor», Yusupov palace, St. Petersburg
  • 2017: IWE «The World of Watercolor», Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava
  • 2017: International festival of watercolor «Light Water Color», Torres Vedras municipal gallery, Portugal
  • 2017: Portugal Festival Internacional IWS, Caldas da Rainha Cultural and Congress Center, Portugal
  • 2016: «Disappearing harmony», St. Petersburg
  • 2016: VII international exhibition «Aquabiennale», Petrozavodsk


Awards:


  • 2019: Winner diploma in the category «Genre Scene» of the X International Biennale «Art-Bridge-Watercolor», Yusupov palace, St. Petersburg
  • 2017: Diploma of the second degree in the category «Portrait» of the IX International Biennale «Art-Bridge-Watercolor», Yusupov palace, St. Petersburg


Illustrations:


  • 2025: «Childhood» by L. Tolstoy, Labirint Press Publishing
  • 2023-2024: Illustrations for the magazine «THE ABYSS», Association of Speleologists of the Urals
  • 2023: «The Call of the Wild» by J. London, Labirint Press Publishing
  • 2023: «Children of the New Forest» by F. J. Marryat, Labirint Press Publishing
  • 2023: «Mom for Cloud» by I. Zartaiskaya, Nigma publishing
  • 2022: «Doctor Violin» by M. Lazarenskaya, Nigma publishing
  • 2021: «Two Dianes» by A. Dumas, Nigma publishing
  • 2020: «Keys to autumn» by A.Kashura, Nigma publishing
  • 2019: «ABC with Sophie and Kuzya» by I. Alekseeva, T. Khozhaeva, Avtorskaya kniga publishing
  • 2018: «Slavik and kitten Kuzya study the alphabet» by I. Alekseeva, T. Khozhaeva, Pero publishing