Yanina (Yana) Movchan was born in Kiev in 1971. Yana’s sublime mastery of the technique and structure of Renaissance painting combines with the instinctive symbolism of “magical realism” to create a personal neo-realist idiom. Her work is formal, yet playful; contemporary, yet timeless; and joyous, yet mysterious, evocative and dreamlike.
In Yana’s paintings, the intellectual and the emotional synthesize to form images that touch the viewer’s heart whilst issuing a challenge: there are deeper meanings to be unraveled, hidden clues amongst the hyper-real still lives, portraits and animal scenes; meanings which echo deep in the unconscious mind. Reviewers have compared Movchan’s work to Velasquez, Colville and Magritte.
Yana trained at the Ukrainian Art Academy. Her master’s thesis project (a triptych entitled “Life on Earth”) won the Golden Fund Prize, the Academy’s highest art award. Her work has featured in solo and group exhibitions in the Ukraine, Prague, London and Canada. She is based in Halifax, Canada, where she lives with her husband and two young sons.
AWARDS/HIGHLIGHTS
2007 Glenn Gould Foundation commission to create a commemorative portrait of the celebrated pianist to mark the 75th anniversary of his birth.
2001 Best Painting Award, Annual Juried Show, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
1995 Golden Fund Prize (the highest art award in the Ukrainian Art Academy) for “Life on Earth” (triptych, oil on canvas)
1989 Ukrainian Art Academy Award of Excellence for “Thoughts of Harmony” (oil on canvas). Painting accepted into the National Art Museum of Ukraine collection. “Thoughts of Harmony” received the highest possible marks and was later purchased by the Museum.
EDUCATION
1993-1995 Ukrainian Art Academy, Kiev, Ukraine Master of Fine Arts in Painting
1989-1993 Ukrainian Art Academy, Kiev, Ukraine Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting
1982-1989 Ukrainian Republican School of the Arts, Kiev, Ukraine
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010 Love of God’s Creations Royal Gallery Providence, RI USA
2007 Glenn Gould Commission Glenn Gould Foundation, Toronto, Ontario Canada
1998 Solo Exhibition Sponsored by Art World of Sherway Toronto, Ontario Canada
1995 Solo Exhibition Sponsored by Art-In Form Gallery Kiev, Ukraine
1995 “Life on earth” Golden Fund Prize Winner Ukrainian Art Academy Museum
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 No Boundaries, RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
2014 Nova Scotian Realism, Dalhousie Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
2013 Contemporary Realism Invitational,Miller Gallery Cinncinnati, Ohio
2013 Women Painting Women, RJD Gallery New York, USA
2013 ArtHamptons, RJD Gallery New York, USA
2013 Down the Rabbit Hole, RJD Gallery New York, USA
2012 The Masters of Movchan,McCallum Gallery Toronto, Ontario Canada
2011 Perspectives, Royal Gallery Providence, RIUSA
2009 Art Expo New York, New York, New York USA
2005 Fuzzy, Oakville Galleries Group Exhibition Oakville, Ontario, Canada
2003 Still Life, YYZ Artist Outlet Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Canada
2002 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Toronto, Ontario Canada
2001 “Best of Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition” award winners group show First Canadian Place Gallery Toronto, Ontario Canada
2001 “Group Show” dedicated to the Tenth Anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine Svit Ozor Fine Arts Santa Barbara, California, USA
2001 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Best Painting Award (sponsored by The Globe & Mail) Annual Juried Show Toronto, Ontario Canada
2000 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Annual Juried Show Toronto, Ontario Canada
2000 Annual Exhibition Etobicoke City Hall Art Gallery Etobicoke, Ontario Canada
2000 Flowers.Svit Ozor Fine Arts Gallery Santa Barbara, California USA
1996 European Fair Sponsored by Laura Gallery Kiev, Ukraine
1995 Ukrainian Artists Exhibition Sponsored by Art-In Form Gallery Prague former Czech Republic
1994 First Galleries Fair Sponsored by Art-In Form Gallery Prague former Czech Republic
1994 Women in Art Sponsored by Slavutych Gallery Kiev, Ukraine
1994 Young Artists of Ukraine Sponsored by “Molodist” -94 (Youth-94) Kiev, Ukraine
1994 Artists of Eastern Europe Sponsored by Mall Galleries London, England
1989 The All Republic’s Exhibition The National Art Museum of Ukraine Kiev, Ukraine
