"Mavka" Painting

Hi and welcome! I’m Kateryna Nikolaienko, and I paint under the name Catherine Vlady. I was born in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. War has changed my life twice: in 2014, I moved to Kyiv, and in 2022, I had to leave Ukraine and start over in Spain. These experiences brought a lot of challenges, but also helped me reconnect with myself — and gave me a way to share the voice of Ukrainian culture through my art. I’ve loved painting since childhood, but for many years it was just a quiet hobby. I have a Master’s degree in Law and worked as a lawyer before switching to aviation. Traveling the world — over 50 countries — gave me the chance to experience different cultures, architecture, and artistic styles. That’s when I began to realize I didn’t just want to admire beauty — I wanted to create it. Over time, art became my profession and my personal language. Through it, I speak about memory, feminine strength, national identity, and the dignity that carries us through even the hardest times. My paintings reflect personal stories and shared emotions — pain, tenderness, resilience, and freedom. My works have been featured in international exhibitions, charity projects, and competitions. They now live in private collections across Spain, the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. I truly believe art can preserve memory, offer healing, and inspire. Thank you for being here — I’m happy to share a part of my world with you.