My artistic practice explores the emotional and psychological landscapes that emerge after moments of profound change. Rather than focusing on events themselves, I am interested in what remains afterwards: memory, adaptation, vulnerability, resilience, and the ongoing process of redefining identity.
Working primarily with painting, I combine contemporary figurative elements, symbolism, and influences from Pop Art to create visually vibrant yet emotionally layered works. Color plays a central role in my practice. For me, color is not only a formal element but a language capable of expressing emotions, tensions, and experiences that often cannot be articulated through words.
My work is deeply influenced by personal experience, migration, and the transformation that comes with rebuilding one’s life in a new environment. However, the paintings are not intended as autobiographical narratives. Instead, they function as open spaces where viewers can encounter fragments of their own stories, memories, and emotions.
I am interested in the relationship between personal and collective experience and in the ways contemporary visual culture shapes our perception of ourselves and others. Through painting, I seek to create moments of recognition, reflection, and connection, inviting viewers to engage with the complexity of change and the possibility of transformation.
Biography
Darina Mikityuk is a Ukrainian contemporary artist based in Hamburg, Germany. She has been developing her artistic practice for more than ten years, exploring themes of identity, transformation, femininity, memory, and emotional perception. Her work combines contemporary figurative painting with influences from Pop Art, using color and symbolism as tools for storytelling.
Before relocating to Germany, she participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions in Ukraine and presented her work through contemporary art projects and art auctions. Her artworks are held in private collections in Ukraine, Germany, and internationally.
In 2026, Mikityuk presented her first solo exhibition in Germany, After the Shift, in Hamburg. The exhibition explored the emotional and psychological transformations that follow major life changes, including migration, adaptation, and the search for belonging. The project received media attention in Hamburg and became an important milestone in her international artistic development.
Alongside her studio practice, she is increasingly involved in curatorial initiatives and projects that support emerging artists and foster dialogue between contemporary art and wider audiences.