"cold clear water" Drawing

Oxana Mahnac is a contemporary artist known for her expressive figurative works that explore human emotions, relationships, and inner states. Born in 1970 in Nizhny Tagil in the Ural region of Russia, she received her formal artistic training at the Academy of Applied Arts in her hometown. Since 1996, she has been living and working in Germany, where her artistic voice has continued to evolve within an international context. Mahnac’s work exists at the intersection of figuration and abstraction. Her paintings and drawings focus primarily on the human figure—often reduced, distorted, or fragmented—to emphasize emotional intensity over physical realism. Faces, gestures, and body language play a central role, conveying vulnerability, tension, intimacy, and psychological depth. Her visual language is characterized by bold lines, dynamic compositions, and a confident use of color. She frequently combines different techniques, including acrylic and oil painting, drawing, monotype, and printmaking, creating layered surfaces that reflect both control and spontaneity. Rather than depicting reality, Mahnac seeks to capture the essence of human experience. Her works invite viewers into a direct emotional dialogue, encouraging personal interpretation and reflection. Rooted in both her Russian background and her life in Germany, her art embodies a cosmopolitan perspective that bridges cultural influences and artistic traditions.