Maren Kai

Maren (Ukrainian, b. 1997) is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian artist working primarily with acrylic on canvas. Her work explores identity, the psyche, and the ways our sense of self can change. Through vivid colors, organic shapes, and surreal imagery, she reflects on the moment when a familiar sense of self begins to fall apart.

She is interested in what happens to the “self” when it can no longer recognize itself, and whether losing one’s identity can be not an ending, but the beginning of something new. She sees the psyche as something alive and constantly changing — capable of dissolving, shifting, and taking new forms.

The human body, roots, eyes, and other organic forms often appear in her paintings. These elements become a way of exploring the connection between the body, inner experience, and personal transformation. Her practice is rooted in her own experience of change and the process of leaving behind an old version of herself while searching for a new one.

Color and form are central to her process. She works intuitively, allowing shapes and images to develop during painting rather than following a fixed narrative. Through this process, painting becomes a way to explore inner states and experiences that are difficult to put in...

Graphic Design at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design (2014–2016).

Theatre and Film Design at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (2016–2018)