Olga Krykun (b. 1994, Ukraine) is a contemporary artist based in Prague, whose work is deeply driven by intuition, emotion, and personal narrative.
Blending storytelling with contemporary iconography, Krykun crafts a mischievous modern mythology. Her vivid, surreal paintings and immersive installations, often featuring girl performers, converge into visually striking, multilayered environments. With her distinctive aesthetic and emotionally charged approach, Olga Krykun brings a bold and unmistakable voice to the contemporary art world.
You reference cultural identity and symbols in your work. Are there any specific rituals, objects, or visual cues from your heritage that you find yourself returning to?
I often reference my personal story – themes of upbringing and belonging. I grew up in the rapidly changing Ukraine of the 1990s–2000s and immigrated to the Czech Republic as a teenager. Many of the visual cues in my work relate to that specific time and place, as well as to the experience of migration.
What’s your relationship with chaos in the studio? Do you try to control it, embrace it, or treat it like a creative collaborator?
I’m always navigating a balance between control and chaos – both in the studio and in life. The painting process I use is quite chaotic, but I also need structure in the studio and order in my inventory to function as an artist.
In a world full of digital overload, what do you think makes an artwork feel truly intimate and authentic today?
For me, it’s the personal story and the relationship that can be built between the viewer and the artist (or their work).
Is there a particular mood or feeling that you aim to capture in your paintings? Or does it reveal itself in the process?
It’s something between melancholy and a spark of hope.
What do you think drives you to keep creating?
I have many ideas and visions that keep me going, it’s a constant inner momentum.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future, both in your artistic journey and in life?
In today’s chaotic world, my hopes are simply for a better future – and that’s also something I try to express in my work. I believe that after difficult times, good times always come, and through that, we build resilience.
