Julia Beliaeva - Ukrainian artist, sculptor

Julia Beliaeva is a prominent figure in contemporary Ukrainian art, whose multifaceted creative practice encompasses sculpture, digital art, and graphic design.

Born in Kyiv in 1988, her upbringing in Ukraine's dynamic capital has significantly shaped her perception of the fast-paced urban environment and technological innovations. In 2011, she graduated from the Mykhailo Boychuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design, acquiring a solid foundation for her artistic explorations.

Beliaeva actively explores the liminal spaces between various media, boldly combining traditional sculptural materials like porcelain and ceramics with cutting-edge advancements in digital art and virtual reality. This interdisciplinary approach allows Julia to create unique, conceptually rich works that address pressing contemporary issues.

Julia Beliaeva's artistic journey includes participation in over 25 exhibitions across Ukraine, Europe, and the USA, notably the significant "Remembering That Day When" exhibition at the PinchukArtCentre in 2021. Her works have garnered wide attention, including a series of sculptures for the Tsum department store's art displays in Kyiv as part of the "Beauty in Imperfection" exhibition, as well as the creation of the "Cate Underwood" 3D sculptures for Vogue UA's "Ukraine in Fashion" project in 2018.

The "Our Lady" project, created for Vogue UA, stands as a prime example of Beliaeva's innovative approach. The artist scanned the model Cate Underwood and developed three virtual reality 3D sculptures, one of which was printed for the exhibition. This project served as a continuation of a photoshoot for the magazine's March issue and explored the interplay between traditional female archetypes and contemporary pop culture, as well as the potential of digital technologies in art. Julia drew parallels between iconic religious imagery and the "style icon" Cate Underwood, reflecting on the canonization of the female image in the modern world.

Reflecting on her work, Julia notes that she operates at the intersection of contemporary art and science, combining diverse technologies to bring her ideas to life. She views art as a "crooked mirror to the world," reflecting not only its history but also human phobias and hopes. For her, virtual reality is a realm akin to dreams, offering a unique immersive experience.

Beyond sculpture and digital art, Julia Beliaeva is the founder of the graphic design studio Graphinya, highlighting the breadth of her creative interests and professional skills. She actively participates in group projects, showcasing her work in institutions such as the Institute of Contemporary Art Problems and the "Art Tsum" gallery. The artist has also held solo exhibitions in Kyiv's Bereznitsky Aesthetics gallery and Odesa's Invogue Art gallery.

Julia Beliaeva's sculptures and installations often raise pertinent socio-political questions concerning new technologies and humanism, truth and post-truth, the contradictions of post-totalitarian society, and the concept of society as a biological organism. Addressing complex themes, the artist employs simple and clear forms, paying close attention to composition. A sense of irony and a subtle melancholy, stemming from the realization of the fragility of ideals, often permeates her work.

Currently, artworks from several of the artist's series are featured in various galleries and numerous private collections across Ukraine, Europe, and the USA.