Marina Barabanova

Art Born from Emotions

I am Marina Barabanova, an artist from Ukraine, currently residing in Spain. I began painting in 2019, using art as a way to express my inner emotions and experiences, whether after a divorce, during moments of love, or in other significant life events. Since childhood, I have loved to paint, but I always sought to avoid strict forms. When I discovered abstract art, I found my ideal means of self-expression, allowing me to convey the world through the lens of my own emotions.

My paintings are journeys through both the bright and dark moments of life. I work primarily with acrylics and use various additional materials such as putty and sprays to create texture and depth. I am inspired by artists like Jackson Pollock and Henri Matisse, and I continuously experiment with different techniques.

Each of my works embodies my emotional state at the time of its creation. I never plan what I will paint in advance; I simply choose a canvas and let my feelings guide me. This approach allows me to create works that always contain a piece of my Ukrainian roots, even though I live far from home.

After the war in Ukraine began, my creativity temporarily halted. It wasn’t until I returned to Ukraine in May 2024 that I was...