Oleksandra Zhumailova

Oleksandra Zhumailova is a Ukrainian artist based in Kyiv. She received her bachelor's degree in fine art from the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture (Kyiv, Ukraine). Sasha's (short for Oleksandra) works encompass a variety of media, including oils, pastels and graphics. Her subject matter traverses both the real and imaginary, creating a world wholly her own. She also does commissioned portraits. Her floral compositions appear almost boundless, featuring bouquets and stand-alone flowers, including irises, calla lilies, among others. Sasha continues to work in a variety of different media, always surprising her audience.

Oleksandra's background in set and costume design from her undergraduate degree strongly informed her early work. In her paintings, she would incorporate crochet fabric (typically reserved for tablecloths, blankets and coasters), in order to decorate crinoline skirts of her characters or stage curtains. This is only one example of her idiosyncratic and inventive approach that sets her apart from her contemporaries. Fashion is an ongoing motif in her work. In 2017 she exhibited her works alongside a renowned Ukrainian fashion designer Ivan Frolov in a joint exhibition at Shcherbenko Art Centre. In addition, Sasha collaborated with the latter on a collection of silk scarves that featured her monochrome prints, adding another feather in her cap.