Mariya Zhakupova

My name is Mariya Zhakupova. I’m a self-taught artist from Kazakhstan - born in Karaganda, currently living and working in Almaty. I've been drawing since childhood, but I began painting more seriously about eight years ago. Flowers are at the heart of my work - not just for their beauty, but as a way to express mood, stillness, strength, femininity, and the passage of time.
I work with oil and acrylic paints, often using a palette knife to add texture and depth. I also use soft pastels and chalk for more delicate, airy compositions. My floral arrangements don’t aim to copy nature precisely - they’re built from memory, imagination, and emotional impressions.
My paintings combine realism with a gentle decorative quality: I pay close attention to light, form, and color, but I also embrace freedom in the treatment of space and detail. I’m drawn to floral subjects for their natural structure and the endless possibilities they offer for color exploration.