Ukrainian photographer Olga Volianska has made significant strides in the fine art photography scene since her solo exhibition at The Cardinal in the Spring of 2023, earning international recognition for her evocative and experimental work. Her recent endeavours reflect a deep engagement with themes of resilience, transformation and the interplay between humanity and nature.
Living and creating in Odesa, Ukraine, Volianska has been working on several series and her work has garnered numerous awards and accolades.
"Over the past two years, my artistic focus has been devoted to memory, nature, time, and inner awareness. This has been a path of rethinking — through observation and silence. Philosophy, literature, and, of course, my sea — a source of resilience and meaning — have been my companions along the way.Art has become my way of keeping balance, like a tightrope walker holding a pole.
The war disrupted the rhythm of life and forced a new perspective on each passing day. We’ve learned to live without plans, to notice the details, to cherish the simple. Time split into “before” and “after.”
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, I made myself a promise: I would speak only when I had the strength not to speak of destruction, but of peace, of love, of creation — of LIFE.
In the first months, I kept silent. Loud words felt out of place. I preferred direct action, personal conversations, and sincerity. And when not just faith — which had always been there — but clarity and inner confidence arose, I began to speak.
All this time, I remained in Odesa. There were moments I considered leaving, but staying became a conscious and meaningful decision. The home front is no less vital than the frontline.
Living here means practicing the art of small steps, daily choices, and inner resistance to all forms of destruction."
-Olga Volianska
BLACKOUT SERIES 2022/2023
"The souls of Ukrainians did not go blind in the darkness.
Emotions wove themselves into a lacework of despair and pain during the autumn and winter of 2022/2023.
And yet, we did not complain about the dark — we became sources of light ourselves. We did not give up. Even through grief, we tried to carry the fragile sprouts of new life into our broken world.
This photographic series was created during the darkest season of 2022/2023, when the days were at their shortest and Ukrainian cities were plunged into blackout by the aggressor. But what are these dried flowers if not seeds of future growth? Plant any one of them — and it will bloom."
-Olga Volianska
Silver Award in Nature: Flowers, Budapest International Foto Awards 2023.
HOPING SERIES 2023
Pink Lakes of the Azov Region
"This is a series I began working on in the summer of 2022, using my aerial photographs taken before the war along the shores of the Sea of Azov. I printed the photographs and hand-painted over them, layering images as one would layer meanings — creating a kind of geological timeline. All of these protected landscapes were occupied from the very first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. God only knows whether these unique lakes will survive. For me, these places — like the entire Kherson region — are deeply familiar and dearly beloved. The series is complemented by images of footprints captured in the same region. Initially, I was drawn to their graphic quality — but now, they carry profoundly different meanings.
This series is a cry from the heart. Most of the biosphere reserves in southern Ukraine have suffered as a result of the war.
Two of the most precious — Askania-Nova and the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve — have been under occupation since the first days of the full-scale invasion."
- Olga Volianska
Jury Top 5, International Photography Awards 2023, Caroline Metcalfe: “An emotionally engaging set of images that is very thought-provoking.”
Bronze Award in Fine Art: Collage, Prix de la Photographie 2023.
Honorable Mention in Fine Art: Other, Budapest International Foto Awards 2023.
Honorable Mention in Fine Art: Other, Tokyo International Foto Awards 2023.
ARRIVAL SERIES 2024
"Water serves as a metaphor for the continuous flow of time — ever-moving and ungraspable. It embodies both serenity and turbulence, reflecting the duality of life itself. Ice, in contrast, represents frozen time — a moment suspended in stillness, yet brimming with latent potential for transformation. It captures the delicate balance between preservation and change, suggesting that what seems immutable can, under the right conditions, dissolve and reveal something entirely new.
Paint introduces an element of unpredictability and creativity, symbolizing the raw and chaotic essence of human emotion. It spreads, merges, and reacts — echoing the complexity and fluidity of our inner experiences.The interaction between water, ice, and paint creates a dynamic dialogue between order and disorder, control and spontaneity.
As the ice melts, hidden shapes and patterns emerge — ephemeral forms that speak to the transient nature of existence. This process mirrors the way new ideas, identities, and possibilities surface when rigid structures dissolve.
Each of my installations captures these fleeting moments, freezing them in time through photography, allowing the viewer to witness the ever-evolving interplay of these elements.Ultimately, this series reflects on how our perception of time and space shifts when subjected to external forces — be it nature, art, or personal experience.It invites the viewer to contemplate the beauty of transformation and the way encounters with the unknown can reshape our understanding of reality.
Through these abstract compositions, I seek to explore the fragile yet profound connections between the seen and the unseen, the permanent and the transitory."
-Olga Volianska
1st Place in Fine Art: Abstract (Professional), Neutral Density Photography Awards 2024.
Finalist in Shoot (Photo/Video), London International Creative Competition 2024.
NOOSPHERE SERIES 2024
Olga Volianska, a Ukrainian visual artist, uses photography and painting to express her artistic vision. Her work invites us to rethink how rapidly the world around us is changing.
As the creator of Noosphere, she invites viewers to explore this art project, consisting of photographs taken in the post-industrial landscapes of Ukraine. In these collages, she creates a surreal narrative that combines elements of tradition and modernity.
Each hand-applied brushstroke adds depth and blurs the line between reality and imagination.
The main themes of her work revolve around the transformation of nature under the influence of time and human activity, as well as reflections on the fragility of the universe.
Inspired by Vernadsky's concept of the noosphere — literally "sphere of reason" — a hypothetical realm of interaction between society and nature, this project reflects on the complex nature of transformation and the ever-evolving fabric of our collective human experience.
The series was awarded:
Nominee in Fine Art (Professional), 10th Fine Art Photography Awards 2023–2024.
Published by the Italian publishing house Istruzioni per il Progetto Fifteen and featured in Artwork Gallery, ISSUE 7: ENJOYING THE COLOR.
Official Selection in Fine Art, IPA Photography Competition 2024.
Honorable Mention in Professional Category, Prix de la Photographie 2024.
Honorable Mention, Professional Budapest International Foto Awards 2024.
PUBLICATIONS
Works from the series Water’s Flowers (selected editions available through The Cardinal Gallery) and Noosphere are featured in the book 100 Contemporary Ukrainian Photographers, which has already gained international recognition:
Presented at Photo Basel 2024, marking its debut at an international art fair
Showcased at FRANCE d’Arles 2024, receiving praise from renowned curator Nathalie Herschdorfer, director of the Photo Elysée Museum
Included in the iconic collection of Martin Parr, housed at the Tate Museum, London
Exhibited at the ST-ART fair in Strasbourg, in the acclaimed Kengo Kuma-designed venue, closing the year with a notable appearance
**The book is now available at the Jeu de Paume Museum, 1 Place de la Concorde, Paris.
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"Sometimes it’s helpful to pause and look back. For me, 2024 was a year of movement, encounters, and incredible opportunities. I want to share the story of my project, Noosphere, which has traveled an exciting and eventful journey."
-Olga Volianska
The Cardinal Gallery is honoured to continue representing exclusive editions of selected works from Volianska's WATER'S FLOWERS, FROZEN GARDENS,EROSION and OBSERVATION THE SURFACE series. We are excited to be collaborating with Volianska for a 2026 exhibition which will include works from her newest series!
VIEW EXCLUSIVE EDITIONS
