Yuliia Feofanova (@luliabilyk) is a Ukrainian artist based in the UK, whose practice moves between intimacy and quiet resistance, drawing on personal memory, the body, and the subtle politics of everyday life. Working across visual and conceptual forms, Feofanova explores fragility as a site of strength, using restrained gestures, poetic symbolism, and tactile processes to question identity, displacement, and emotional inheritance. Her work resists spectacle in favor of attentiveness, inviting the viewer into spaces where vulnerability, care, and persistence coexist.
Are you self-taught or did you attend art school?
I didn’t attend art school for long, I took lessons from private teachers, but I consider myself self-taught.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Before the war in my country, I painted for myself using traditional techniques, but abroad, Samchykivka helped me cope with the difficulties of immigrant life and connected me with eternal values and my identity. When the world is divided, art unites, it speaks and makes us speak. This is my way to talk about Ukraine and bring bright colours to this world.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
Samchykivka painting differs from other paintings with being large, delicate flowers. It’s not painted, but rather cultivated, and is as continuous as life itself.
Is narrative a key element in your work? If so, how does it come through?
Wavy and sharp lines are combined in the painting to symbolize both masculine and feminine principles. Symbols of love, peace, and family well-being are embedded in the painting.
Who are your favourite artists, and what draws you to their work?
I love Rafael’s artworks because they all infused with an internal energy and spiritual depth.
Who or what inspires your art?
The sun awakens the energy of creation within me. Light transforms things, and colour is born in light.
Where is your studio located, and what’s the environment like?
I work in my small bungalow on the outskirts of Cambridge.
Do you have any studio rituals or habits that help you create?
It’s weird, but I like to lick my brush before I start painting.
What projects or artworks are you currently working on?
I recently finished painting the facade of a house in North Cambridge, the first house in England in the Ukrainian folk style of Samchykivka.
Where can people view or purchase your art?
I participate in many exhibitions, the easiest way to contact me is through my Instagram page, where you can find all the updates and announcements.
How has your style evolved over time?
I experiment with combinations of different colors and find new symbols for interpretation.
What materials or mediums do you prefer to work with, and why?
I love working with gouache on paper, it is bright and natural and is able to convey the authenticity and identity of my painting.
What challenges do you often face in your work, and how do you overcome them?
I don’t speak English well and I would like to talk more about my art with interested people.
What do you hope viewers take away from your art?
From the first days when I brought my art to the public, I saw how much joy it brings. I feel that my art carries a positive wave that changes the world for the better.
Art is one of the most powerful ways to channel creative energy. Creativity is a way to share your energy. It’s a process through which your creative energy becomes visible.
How do you handle creative block or burnout?
There are dark days, then I go out into nature and it brings me inspiration.
Has your cultural or personal background influenced your art?
Samchykivka painting originated in the village of Samchyky in central Ukraine in the 19th century and was used to decorate houses and household items. This style was almost lost with the advent of the USSR and was revived by local artists in the end. Only a few artists are developing this art form.
This is my fight for my country and my culture.
What has been a defining moment in your artistic career so far?
The response in people’s hearts is the most important thing for me.
Do you collaborate with other artists or creative communities?
At the moment I am developing patterns for textiles.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
You never know how people will react to your art, but it’s a crime to hide what you create from the public. When an artist creates, they communicate with the heavens, and they have no right to conceal these messages.
Creativity is a way to share your energy.
This not only strengthens your own energy, but also creates a wave that inspires others.
Where do you see your work heading in the future? Any long-term goals or dream projects?
I would like to live a life centred around art and intellectual freedom.
For more information visit Instagram: @luliabilyk