Svitlana Zezekalo

Don't look up!1

2026

Artist Statement I explore adulthood as a process of inner growth that unfolds through the experience of solitude. This is not isolation, but a space of strength — a place where I confront my emotions, pain, and meanings that shape my understanding of the world. Solitude, for me, is where depth is born — where I can hear my own voice beyond the noise of the outside world. It pains me to see how contemporary culture encourages infantilism, constant presence in the social space, and the need to be “connected.” But my experience has taught me: true maturation happens in silence, alone with oneself. It is in this space that clarity arises, allowing the discovery of an inner light that requires no external validation. My works are an attempt to convey this silence. They offer no ready-made answers, but create a space where one can pause and ask: “What do I feel?” These paintings emerge from both vulnerability and strength, and they are a kind of conversation with myself — without embellishment, but with honesty and presence. The series “Adulthood” is the story of a girl who no longer believes in fairy tales. It’s not about loss, but about the path back to oneself — about accepting a new language of silence, clarity, and inner light that no longer seeks approval from the outside. For me, art is a way of being myself, of seeing and embracing every part of me — even the ones long forgotten. Solo Exhibitions Artist CV Born: 1974, Kyiv, Ukraine Based in: Karlovac, Croatia Membership: Artist Union ULAK (Karlovac, Croatia) since 2023 Education Kyiv Children's Art School (Ukraine) 2022 – Solo Exhibition, Euro Art Gallery, Rivne, Ukraine Group Exhibitions and Art Events 2025 - Group Exhibition, Galerija Vjekoslav Karas (Karlovac, Croatia) 2025 - Group Exhibition, ULAK (Karlovac, Croatia) 2025 – Group Exhibition, Art Voyage Gallery (Zofingen, Switzerland) 2024 – Group Exhibition, ULAK (Karlovac, Croatia) 2024 – Group Exhibition, ULAK (Karlovac, Croatia) 2024 – Art Residency / Artistic Plein Air, ULAK (Karlovac, Croatia) 2024 – Art Residency / Artistic Plein Air, ULAK (Karlovac, Croatia) 2024 – Art Residency / Artistic Plein Air, Novo Mesto, Slovenia 2024 – Participation in Charity Art Auction, Croatia 2019 – Group Exhibition, NuArt Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine Special Projects 2021 – Painting elements used in branding of several series of cosmetic products Other Professional Activities 2023–2024 – Member and head of the jury for three children’s drawing competitions for Ukrainian children in Croatia Press Coverage 2025 – Featured in an article in Jutarnji list newspaper (Croatia) 2025 - Featured in a Showcase My Art article