Her name is Yuliia Stelmakh. She was born and raised in the heart of Ukraine — Kyiv. Before the war, she was a lawyer by profession, graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University, and worked in banking institutions and at the National Bank of Ukraine. However, back in 2015, she became passionate about painting, which led Yuliia’s life onto a radically new path.
In 2017, she completed a course in figurative painting at the Modern Art Research Institute of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts under the guidance of the renowned Ukrainian artist Andrii Bludov.
And it seems that this was when her powerful artistic journey began. In particular, Yuliia took part in group exhibitions, including those held at the National Bank of Ukraine.
A significant influence on Yuliia’s work was her personal artistic mentor, Oleksandr Onishchenko, who is known for his mastery of working with black canvas. It was his unique approach that helped Yuliia reveal the depth of her own artistic vision and experiment with techniques and themes.
In 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yuliia was forced to leave her homeland. After spending a month in Europe, she moved to the United States, where she began a new chapter of her life. Despite the difficulties of adaptation, Yuliia continued to paint, finding in art a source of strength and inspiration. She volunteered at the Torpedo Art Factory in the town of Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., and this community of American artists became an important step for her integration into a new culture.
Today, Yuliia has created around 300 works, many of which adorn private collections in the United States, Greece, Moldova, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, and other countries around the world. Her art is distinguished by its emotional depth, vivid palette, and delicate sense of space.
Yuliia has also stayed connected to her legal career. She currently works at an American law firm and plans to continue her studies to obtain a Master of Laws degree in the United States. “In my life, art is jurisprudence and painting — they complement and balance each other,” Yuliia states.
Beyond her creative pursuits, Yuliia actively shares her artistic experience. She conducts painting workshops for women in Washington D.C., and has developed her own unique teaching system, which includes basic knowledge of fine arts. Under her guidance, during a workshop any person can create their own painting in three hours. Her workshops not only open new horizons for participants, but also help them find inner harmony through art.
Yuliia Stelmakh`s story inspires many. It shows how, despite change, loss, and challenges, one can find new meaning and continue to grow. Her example proves that art and have no boundaries.
Columbia Washington
