“Women”: A Portrait Exhibition During an Uncertain Time

One year after my first solo exhibition, I presented a new project - an oil portrait exhibition titled “Women” - held in March 2021 in Zhytomyr, Ukraine.

The exhibition took place during a difficult period. The COVID-19 pandemic had already changed everyday life, imposed restrictions, and created constant uncertainty. Organising an exhibition at that time required flexibility, patience, and trust — from both the institution and the audience.

Despite these challenges, the exhibition happened - and it mattered.

About the Exhibition

“Women” was a series of oil portraits depicting women from my immediate

environment:friends, family members, acquaintances - people I knew personally.

The focus was not on idealised images, but on presence, individuality, and inner strength. Each portrait was created through direct observation and emotional connection, turning familiar faces into a collective image of womanhood shaped by lived experience.

Working in oil allowed for slowness, depth, and physical engagement with paint - a contrast to the instability of the surrounding world. At that moment, painting became a way to stay grounded and attentive.

Media Coverage

The exhibition was announced and covered by local media, even under pandemic conditions.

Event listing and announcement https://www.0412.ua/afisha/15978/zinki This publication presented the exhibition as a cultural event for the city, highlighting its focus on women’s portraits and the use of oil painting as the primary medium.

Television coverage (local TV channel) https://fb.watch/pvxWqZjDaI/ https://fb.watch/pvxYAd9-9_/ Television segments documented the exhibition, showing the portraits, the exhibition space, and discussing the idea behind the project. These reports framed the exhibition as a moment of human connection and cultural continuity during an unstable time.

Why This Exhibition Was Important

Looking back, “Women” was not just a continuation of my exhibition practice. It was a statement of presence.

At a time when many things were postponed or cancelled, the act of painting real people and showing their portraits publicly felt especially meaningful. It reaffirmed my commitment to figurative painting, portraiture, and contemporary art rooted in lived relationships.

This exhibition strengthened my connection to acrylic art and oil painting as long-term practices and deepened my understanding of portraiture as dialogue rather than representation.