e-Directory of Ukrainian Women Success Stories AUDIO-VISUAL ARTS
Faces of War, Germany
Artistic profile
UA woman, is Ukrainian artist from Mariupol. Before devoting herself to art, she led a diverse career path – she lectured at a university, worked in banking, managed companies, and even engaged in politics. Yet, painting was always with her. She first learned portrait art by studying the face of Johnny Depp, whose changing appearances in films fascinated her.
The full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 forced Iryna to move to Munich. Those first months of exile were incredibly difficult. Painting became her way to cope with trauma and stress. She began creating the series ‘Children of War’ – powerful portraits that, as she explains, do not depict specific children but rather reflect emotions we all carry: fear, hope, love, and confusion.
The Business Journey
Since choosing art as her life’s mission, Iryna has organized around 60 exhibitions in Ukraine, Europe, the USA, and China. Her works have appeared at major contemporary art auctions in London and New York, and in institutions such as the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Some of her paintings are now part of prestigious private collections, including those of Andy Warhol’s family.
In December 2019, her work ‘Rockefeller’s Piggy Bank’ sold at a charity auction for 800,000 UAH (about €20,000), funding equipment for a children’s oncology hospital. Over the past two years, she has raised more than one million UAH for charitable causes. Step by step, through exhibitions, international contacts, and determination, she became not just an artist but also a cultural diplomat for Ukraine.
The UA woman says that many years ago she learned to paint through creating portraits of Johnny Depp. At that time, painting was only a hobby alongside a very different professional life: she lectured at a university, worked as a banker, led various companies, and was even involved in politics. She chose Depp as a subject because his on-screen image differs greatly from his real-life appearance, which challenged her to capture not just his looks but also his emotions and energy.
She later attended a concert in Munich where he was performing and saw him up close, which inspired another portrait. After she published this work, it was picked up by an American publishing house, leading to further exhibitions in the United States. Eventually, Johnny Depp’s friends saw the painting and contacted her, saying it was remarkable because it truly captured his essence – something they felt no other portrait had done.
Through this, they were introduced, and they met several times. She describes him as modest, thoughtful, and deeply interesting, noting that he is actively involved in charity work without ever drawing attention to it. She also mentions his love for painting, playing the guitar, and singing. From the moment she painted her first portrait of him to their eventual meeting, twenty years had passed.
Achievements and Impact
Her series ‘Children of War’ gained international recognition, resonating deeply with European audiences. One painting from the series will appear on a limited-edition German 50-euro regional banknote in 2025, a symbol of the emotional power of her art. The same painting was also featured on the cover of a book about Ukraine by Edoardo Crisafulli, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture.
UA woman has been awarded the international ‘Cultural Diplomacy’ prize. She has become a true ambassador for Mariupol, her destroyed hometown. Through her exhibitions and media presence, she speaks about the tragedy of her city and the resilience of Ukrainians. She emphasizes that art must continue to remind the world of the war and its human consequences.
How did she achieve such success?
The UA woman explains that her life experience is like asking someone to walk in her shoes and follow the same path. With a background and knowledge across many fields, becoming an artist ultimately shaped her as a person. Looking back, she realises that constant work has been the foundation of everything – through work, life brings people who help move things forward, and whenever she can help others, she does.
She notes that many of her paintings, especially her early works, were lost in Mariupol. They had been kept in private collections, including one that hung in the mayor’s office, all of which has now disappeared. Before the war, she held exhibitions in Ukraine where representatives of the art market proposed joint projects, which led to travel and exhibitions in Spain, the United States, and other countries. Some of her works remained in America, something she is grateful for today, as it means they were preserved.
She also shares that last year she attended the World Economic Forum in Davos representing charitable organisations. There, she met people who offered to organise an exhibition in Cannes, which took place just a month later. Step by step, she says, she continues to tell the world about Ukraine.
Media Sources of the Story
Based on publicly available interviews and reports.
Self-reflection questions
Now let’s reflect on the story. Read the following questions and try answering it.
- How does UA woman’s of the story use of art to cope with trauma inspire you to find your own way of healing?
- What can you learn from UA woman’s of the story determination to rebuild her career after leaving Mariupol?
- How does UA woman’s story show the importance of using personal talents to help others?
- In what ways does UA woman’s of the story pride in representing Ukraine abroad encourage you to share your culture?
- How does UA woman’s of the story journey motivate you to keep pursuing your dreams despite challenges?
Self-check questions
Read each of the 5 questions carefully and select the best answer from the options provided.