Catherine Vlady

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,...

Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs named after E.O. Didorenko

• September–October 2024 — “Strong Nation” exhibition, Mijas, Spain
• December 2024 – February 2025 — MaliuyUA festival, Kyiv (1st place by audience vote)
• January–March 2025 — “Generation of War” exhibition, Kraków, Poland
• March 16 – April 16, 2025 — “Ukrainian Spring”, charity group exhibition-sale at Galushka Art Space, Kyiv (as part of the Art-Front project)
• May 16–25, 2025 — International Exhibition “To the International Museum Day”, Pavlo Tychyna Literary-Memorial Museum, Kyiv