See the voice - The magical and powerful paintings of an Ukraine artist Veronika Blyzniuchenko
The combination of colors, the recreation of nature, the imagination behind the themes — all evoke feelings that are vivid yet calm, pure yet compelling, simple yet complex, beautiful yet emotional.
When the conflict erupted in Ukraine in early 2022, a family—already one of the art patrons—invited the then 25‑year‑old Ukrainian artist to stay with them in Cascais, Portugal. They welcomed her warmly and offered strong support at the outset of the war. Soon after arriving, the young artist proposed a restoration project at one of Lisbon’s basilicas. In exchange for using her own resources to renovate a neglected area of the building, she asked permission to exhibit her artwork on-site and to produce new works within the restored space. The community embraced her idea, and once the restoration was complete, she even cultivated a beautiful garden there. The rejuvenated area was officially reopened to the public, showcased through her exhibitions. Her name is Veronika Blyzniuchenko, and she now lives on her own, independently.
I was introduced to Veronika by my friend Darcy, who brought me to visit her on the last day of May. After learning about her background and walking through her gallery, I asked Veronika if she missed her family and friends who were still living in Ukraine.
“Of course I miss them very much,” she replied softly. “But I don’t dwell on sadness or anger or anything like that,” she continued. “I paint with my feelings—all kinds of feelings that I can’t express in words. Everything is in my paintings.”
“Your paintings use such a wide range of colors,” I told her, looking into her eyes, “yet they don’t feel overwhelming. Instead, they bring a sense of calm and peace when I look at them.”
She smiled and said that her inspiration comes from the garden she created—trees, flowers, singing birds—all the living things in that space inspire her to paint.
Beautiful work by both of You 👍🏼❤️