The fast-drying nature of acrylic paints brings an entirely different kind of energy to my practice. They provide immediate results and encourage a spontaneous, expressive approach that keeps the process fresh and dynamic.
What I love most about acrylics is their incredible versatility. They can be used on canvas, paper, or wood — opening endless creative possibilities for experimentation. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate many of their qualities:
The combination of acrylics and texture paste allows for a dynamic interplay between colour, texture, and form — giving the artwork a unique, tactile quality. It’s a medium that rewards curiosity, experimentation, and the courage to explore new directions.
The exhibition True Blue & a Little Bit of Yellow at Gosford Community Gallery was the first of many we held during the first three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It marked a moment when art became a way to stand together, to act, and to help. Seven Australian artists of Ukrainian descent, all living and working in Australia, came together to sell artworks and raise funds for Ukrainians in need. The theme — blue and yellow — was both simple and deeply felt: a tribute to the ocean, to emotion, and to shared experience. We are endlessly grateful to everyone who visited, supported the exhibition, purchased artworks, or made a donation. This exhibition ran from 27 June to 1 July 2022, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Cultural Production at Scale: Behind the Scenes of Diplomatic Performances. Large-scale cultural productions rely on careful planning, close collaboration, and deep respect for historical detail. The costume performance at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, in 2019 was the most complex project of this kind that I coordinated. It was created for the Embassy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Women’s Association, and held in honour of the late Christine (Hrystyna) Syvenkyj-Bailey, whose lifelong dedication to Ukrainian cultural heritage continues to resonate deeply. The project required working across multiple teams and private collections to deliver a unified and meaningful performance for a diplomatic audience. For this event, I coordinated 29 models and 17 private collectors, alongside multiple cultural organisations and contributors, bringing together diverse elements into a single coherent presentation. Every detail — from costume construction to the order of presentation — was carefully curated to communicate a clear cultural narrative. My responsibilities spanned curatorial decision-making, logistical coordination, visual design, and narrative development, ensuring that each component supported the overall experience. An earlier performance in 2018, initiated by Christine Syvenkyj-Bailey, was created primarily on the basis of her personal collection. My role focused on shaping the presentation, coordinating contributors, and translating the collection into a clear and engaging public performance. Creating region-appropriate floral head wreaths and jewellery for such a large number of models was particularly challenging, both creatively and logistically. Managing the transport, handling, and return of numerous historical and handmade items required precision and care, but the process was completed successfully without loss or damage. Following the event, I designed a commemorative calendar featuring photographs taken during the performance by Tetiana Matsypura, extending the life of the project beyond the event itself.
