Zoryana Pochynayko

I am a multidisciplinary artist, director, and playwright working at the intersection of visual art and theater. Currently based between Lviv, Ukraine, and Vienna, Austria, I draw inspiration from my background in dramatic directing to create visual narratives that feel like frozen scenes from a larger play.

In my paintings and graphics, I explore the concept of Homo Ludens ("The Playing Human"). I am fascinated by the roles we play, the masks we wear, and the hidden games of the subconscious. My works often feature surreal characters and mythological archetypes, blending the physical with the metaphysical. I use oil painting and mixed media to capture the tension between the visible world and the emotional undercurrents that drive us.

My artistic practice is deeply intertwined with my work as the founder and artistic director of "Zhyvago Theatre." Just as in my theatrical productions—such as The Garden of Earthly Delights and Shadow of the Minotaur—my visual art seeks to provoke, question, and tell a story. Whether through a canvas or a stage performance like my musical project "MRYAKA," my goal is to engage the viewer in a dialogue about the nature of existence.

2013 – 2017: Directing of Drama Theater — Rivne State University of Humanities (RDGU), Ukraine

2009 – 2010: Musical Art — S. Prokofiev Donetsk State Music Academy, Ukraine

2000 – 2005: German Language and Literature — Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine

2025 – "The Gaming Human", The Heart of Vienna Gallery, Vienna, Austria

2021 – "LUDERE", Kerouac Art Pub, Lviv, Ukraine

2018 – "MONO", Urban Library, Lviv, Ukraine