Labyrinth of the Self Painting

Olena Kosenko is a self-taught painter whose striking acrylic-on-canvas works explore the boundaries of modern, contemporary abstraction. Born and raised in Ukraine, she spent the early years of her career building a successful corporate life, only to rediscover her true passion for art and take the bold step of transitioning full-time into painting. Today, she works predominantly on commission—creating tailor-made pieces for private collectors—and releases a select handful of paintings for public sale each year, ensuring each work remains a distinctive statement of her evolving vision. Her studio practice is driven by a deep love of colour and an obsession with layering technique. Her focus is firstly on colour, and then on the dynamic compositional play between human figures, nature’s expanse, and abstracted colour fields. She is inspired by the joy she feels when connected to nature’s energy and translates that energy into colour. Drawing inspiration from the shifting light of the Carpathian foothills, the pulse of urban life, or simply the play of emotion and memory, she begins each canvas by building up translucent glazes of pigment. Over time, she adds bold geometric forms, dynamic gestural marks, and unexpected textural details—allowing each painting to reveal new surprises as viewers move closer or step back. Though she has yet to mount a solo exhibition, her paintings can be found in private collections internationally, including in the United States and the United Kingdom, and she is currently preparing a portfolio for upcoming group shows and gallery presentations. Like many contemporary artists featured on Saatchi Art and leading gallery platforms, she believes that abstraction invites the viewer’s own narrative—that meaning arises in the dialogue between painting and observer. As she continues to refine her technique and expand her practice, Olena looks forward to sharing her latest commissions and small-edition works with collectors who appreciate the energy, depth, and emotional resonance of her layered canvases.