About

My name is Yulia Brekman. I am a young, confident and expressive artist, and my paintings are primarily portraits and figurative works in oil.

I often use photographs, many of which I take myself, as a starting point. But I do not simply transfer the image onto the canvas. For me a photograph is only a spark that ignites the process; from there the painting takes on a life of its own, independent of any particular emotion or reference.

My main goal is to explore painting itself: its structure, composition, colour and mark-making, rather than representation alone. My works are like confessions, though I never speak about myself directly. Instead I offer associations and emotional cues through which the viewer can sense my inner world. My art is a dialogue: it draws you in and invites you to reflect on your own most intimate thoughts and feelings.

One recurring theme is adolescence: the delicate process of growing up and discovering the values that shape a person’s path. Many of my paintings deal with the complexities of life and human relationships, and I am fortunate that many of them have found homes in private collections.

Alongside painting I work in 2D and 3D computer design, ceramics and handmade dolls, and I have worked in film as a production designer and assistant production designer. Trying different forms of art lets me see myself not only as a painter but as a creator who can express an idea in any medium. Still, painting remains the core of who I am.

I graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, where my professors shaped my sense of composition and style and my understanding of psychology and individuality, qualities that are now visible in my work. I exhibit regularly and have many creative plans ahead, among them opening my own gallery. Every day I dedicate to my work brings those plans a step closer.