Interview with Anastasia Yanchuk — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Anastasia Yanchuk is not just a painter.
She is a storyteller of softness and strength, a visual poet who captures the soul of the sea and the spirit of the feminine.

Her work moves gracefully between two realms:
the timeless beauty of nature and the radiant complexity of womanhood.
In her luminous seascapes, waves become whispers of calm, inviting the viewer to pause, breathe and reconnect with a quieter rhythm of life.

But it is through her portrayal of women, from diverse cultures and identities, that Anastasia reveals her deepest vision: a celebration of individuality, sensuality and inner power.
Her signature style combines classical realism with luxurious materials: acrylics on fine linen, embellished with gold and silver leaf, Swarovski crystals, mirror mosaics and fabrics.
Each piece becoming a tactile symphony of elegance and emotion.

With a growing international presence, including events like the Florence Biennale, Paris Fashion Air, the Art Forbes Project and art exhibitions in prestigious galleries and museums across Italy, France, Principality of Monaco, Spain, Austria…

Anastasia Yanchuk is a rising voice in contemporary art.
Her mission is clear:
to inspire, to empower and to remind us that true beauty is not perfection but presence.
In this interview, she invites us into her creative world, where freedom is painted in layers, femininity shines with quiet courage and art becomes a mirror of the soul.

https://www.anastasiayanchuk.com

Anastasia, your work emphasizes the beauty and strength of women, transcending nationality and ethnicity. How do you view the role of contemporary art in shaping societal attitudes toward gender and identity, particularly in a world increasingly concerned with diversity and inclusion?

Thank you for this important question! I believe contemporary art plays a crucial role in shaping how society perceives gender and identity. Through visual expression, we can challenge stereotypes and offer new perspectives that transcend cultural and national boundaries.

In my work, I focus on the feminine as a source of soft powerâ€¦ a strength that is not aggressive, but deeply rooted in elegance, sensitivity. Unfortunately, violence against women remains a serious issue in many countries. It is essential to constantly remind society of the importance of respecting and valuing women.

Modern representations of women are often hypersexualized or mechanically “successful.” Art has the power to restore a woman’s wholeness: her softness, intuition, vulnerability and greatness without the need to constantly “prove” herself.

When a woman is portrayed in art with love and respect, it brings “healing” to the viewer and to society. It serves as a reminder that:

a woman does not need to be “a man in a skirt” to be valuable;
beauty - is an energy;
to be gentle, delicate, and deep is a form of strength, not weakness.

In an increasingly diverse world, art holds the unique power to unify. It speaks a universal language that can connect people beyond labels. My goal is to create images that celebrate individuality while encouraging viewers to reflect on our shared humanity.

Given the strength and individuality you portray in your female subjects, how do you think art can be a powerful tool in addressing and combating violence against women? Can you share any experiences where your work has sparked conversations or action in this regard?

Art is one of the ways to influence society. It has the power to open hearts and minds, to make people reflect on important issues such as violence against women. But I believe the solution must be more complex and collective.

Alongside art, families and schools play a crucial role in shaping the values of younger generations. It’s important to educate children and teenagers to be respectful, kind and polite; to teach them how to connect with their inner world and express their feelings and emotions in a mature and conscious way. It is essential to remind society that violence is cruel and destructive.

In my experience, I have seen how art can spark conversations that lead to deeper reflection. Sometimes, viewers share with me how a painting helped them see the feminine in a new light: as something to be cherished, protected, not dominated. These moments give me hope that art can contribute, in its own way, to build a more respectful and compassionate world.

I have also participated in exhibitions specifically dedicated to raising awareness about violence against women. It was very meaningful to see how these events created safe spaces for dialogue, empathy, education and support. When art becomes a vehicle for social awareness, its impact goes far beyond aesthetics, it becomes a tool for healing and change.

Many people turn to art for comfort and stress relief. Have you observed viewers finding solace in your artworks, and how do you see your seascapes and portraits contributing to mental well-being in today's fast-paced world?

Absolutely. I’ve often observed viewers finding a sense of calm or emotional resonance when looking at my artworks. My seascapes, with their soft blue tones, are intentionally created to evoke peace and serenity. They often remind people of cherished vacation memories, happy moments or simply the soothing rhythm of the sea, all of which contribute to a feeling of relaxation and inner stillness.

At the same time, my portraits of women, especially those featuring bold elements like red lips or red nails, carry a different kind of energy. They awaken a sense of inner strength, confidence and sensual vitality. Many people have told me they feel more motivated, full of energy and empowered by looking at these artworks.

In today’s fast-paced and overstimulating world, I believe art has the power to ground us, reconnect us with ourselves and offer emotional nourishment. Whether through tranquility or energy, my goal is to create a visual space where viewers can pause, breathe and feel something real.

Your art celebrates femininity while embracing individuality. How do you navigate the balance between depicting sensuality and strength, and what message do you hope viewers take away from your portrayal of women?

Good question... For me, femininity is not a contradiction. It is the harmony between sensuality and strength. I don’t see these qualities as opposites, but as complementary aspects of a whole: deeply human, deeply feminine.

In my portraits, I often use visual elements like confident poses, soft gazes, red lips or flowing hair, not to objectify, but to express self-awareness, presence and emotional depth. Sensuality, in this context, becomes a language of authenticity and inner power.

I believe that true strength lies in embracing one’s own nature. A woman can be graceful and powerful, delicate and determined, emotional and wise - all at once. Through my work, I hope to remind viewers that feminine energy is not something to hide or restrain. It is something to celebrate.

My message is simple: your individuality and uniqueness are your beauty. Your vulnerability is part of your strength.

Your use of materials like gold and silver leaf, Swarovski crystals, and mirror mosaics creates a luxurious and tactile element in your art. What drives your choice of these materials, and how do they help convey the themes of beauty and charisma in your work?

I choose materials for each artwork in a very personal and intuitive way, just as every woman is unique, every piece I create deserves its own special treatment. The materials I use - are not simply decorative. They are symbolic: they reflect light, presence and inner radiance.

These elements also add a sense of elegance, richness and timeless beauty to the artwork. For me, they evoke the feeling that every woman is a queen in her own right - worthy of being seen, celebrated and honored. The tactile and luminous qualities of these materials help to elevate the subject, emphasizing her charisma, strength and inner glow.

Ultimately, my goal is not only to create something visually captivating, but to express the precious, multidimensional nature of femininity itself.

In a world where cultural identity can both unite and divide, how does your work foster a dialogue about the universality of beauty across ethnicities? Do you see art as a means to bridge cultural gaps?

Oh yes, absolutely. I believe cultural identity should be something that unites us, not something that separates. Of course, we are all different, and that’s beautiful. But if we focus only on our differences, we will never build a truly harmonious world and society.

Through my art, I try to highlight what connects us on a deeper level: the shared emotions, the beauty of the human spirit, the strength and grace that transcend borders and backgrounds. I portray women of different origins not as stereotypes, but as reflections of universal beauty, dignity and individuality.

Diversity is not a limitation. It’s a gift. It helps us grow, learn from each other and expand our perspective. I truly see art as a bridge: a visual and emotional language that can bring people together beyond words, nationality or ethnicity. That is one of its greatest powers.

From Moscow to Italy, your artistic journey has been geographically diverse. How has your relocation influenced your artistic vision, especially in terms of portraying nature and women?

Relocating to Italy turned my world upside down in the best way. It was a complete shift, almost a 180-degree change. Suddenly, I felt truly free to express my vision, to follow my instincts and to choose my own materials and themes without limitations. That kind of freedom was overwhelming at first…even a little scary! But with time, I realized it was exactly what I needed.

This new sense of freedom gave me the courage to experiment. I began exploring different techniques and mediums: watercolors, resin, mixed media, even zentangle. I allowed myself to create both abstract and figurative works, depending on what I felt in the moment. Each experiment became part of my journey and helped me refine my voice as an artist.

The relocation to Italy has undoubtedly enriched me, not only by giving me freedom in creation, but also through the opportunities it offered. Living here opened doors to meaningful collaborations that continue to nourish my artistic path!

Italy’s natural beauty and cultural depth inspire me daily to explore femininity and nature with more intuition and emotional honesty. This environment has given me the space to reconnect with my inner world and to let it speak through my art.

With digital technology influencing how art is created, shared, and consumed, how do you perceive the role of physical, textural art like yours in maintaining the intimate connection between the artist and the audience?

The growth of digital technologies has definitely changed the art world. It offers new ways to connect with people, especially younger generations who grew up with a smartphone in hand. Digital tools can enrich art, expand its reach and help create new kinds of artistic dialogue.

But at the same time, they don’t replace physical art. There’s something deeply human and irreplaceable about seeing a painting in person: feeling its textures, sensing the layers, the energy, the imperfections. That physical presence creates an emotional and almost spiritual connection that screens simply can’t replicate.

For me, digital platforms are useful for sharing and communicating, but the true soul of my work lives in the material: in the brushstrokes, the canvas, the space where the viewer stands in front of the artwork.

Do you believe that artists have a responsibility to address social issues through their work? If so, how do you reconcile this responsibility with your personal creative freedom and aesthetic pursuits?

That’s also a very deep question. I believe that art naturally reflects the world we live in, including its problems and challenges. But at the same time, art is a personal interpretation: it's the artist’s own point of view, not a universal truth.

I don’t think every artist must address social issues, but I do believe we all carry some level of responsibility to be aware, to feel and to express what moves us. For me, that expression often comes through themes of love, peace, inner strength and femininity…not always by depicting the problem directly, but by offering an emotional alternative or a space for reflection.

Certainly, an artist and their work must be coherent. Speaking about myself, my personal credo is freedom: to live and let others live freely, but always according to the principles of mutual respect. That value is present in everything I create. I believe that through beauty, softness and authenticity, we can inspire change without shouting. Sometimes, freedom itself is the strongest message.

So, when it comes to women, I believe they are free to be different. They are not obliged to follow imposed beauty standards or social expectations. What truly matters is that they don’t lose their uniqueness and personality. For me, that individuality is where real feminine power begins.

And it’s also important to remember that every viewer interprets a work of art in their own way. The emotional message, the details, the energy - each person sees and feels something different. That’s the magic of art: it opens a dialogue that goes beyond words, where meaning is shaped not only by the creator but also by the heart of the one who observes.

As a realist painter focusing on the image of women, how do you envision the portrayal of femininity evolving in art over the next decade? How do you see your own role in shaping or responding to these changes?

We live in a time of constant and rapid transformation. In such a fast-moving world, it’s difficult to predict how the image of femininity will evolve in art over the next decade. But one thing, I believe, will always remain: the quiet strength of a woman’s inner world.

Trends may change, but authenticity endures. True beauty lies in personality, in individuality, in that invisible light that comes from within.

As an artist, my role is not to dictate what femininity should look like, but to gently support the inner voice of each woman: to offer a visual space where she can feel strong, free and deeply herself. If my paintings can awaken a sense of inner balance, dignity and soft power, then I feel I’ve fulfilled my purpose.