My sculptures highlight the importance of cultural connection, shared histories and belonging. Growing up American-Ukrainian, I feel emotionally and spiritually connected to my own Ukrainian history despite being physically separate. Now living in San Francisco, I'm surrounded by a culture of growth, newness, and constant forward “progress”. I look to my own ancestry to push back against this narrative that glorifies individualism. I weave together motifs and vocabularies from Ukrainian folk tales and my own childhood, crafting sculptures for the inner child in all of us. 

In addition to their playful scenes, my ceramic pieces have bright, earthy colors and may incorporate other materials such as felted wool or metal, giving them a playful, childlike quality and further connecting them to folklore. I love translating small patterns and delicate details onto larger sculptures, highlighting how small moments and memories can carry so much weight. I am specifically drawn to coils because of their slow, repetitive nature and their ability to encapsulate a whimsical, dreamy quality in my work.

Often bridging a connection between human and nature, I use folk tales to anchor myself in shared cultural histories. I focus on individual moments that blend personal experiences with these narratives, offering a playful and surreal re-interpretation of everyday life.