Presented in December 2019, the work of Valentyna Ohurtsova demonstrates how an artist born on 16 May 1978 in Omsk, Russia, has developed a distinctive practice by combining abstract expressionism with the traditional technique of cross-stitch embroidery. After years of travel and silence, Ohurtsova relocated to Venice in 2003, where she has remained active in the local art scene.
Artistic Development and Practice
Ohurtsova’s creative approach treats art as a vehicle for materializing emotions and reflections drawn from lived experience and surrounding reality. Her works employ abstraction to liberate subjects from mimetic representation, allowing her to expand her interior world through invention, originality, and geometric and symbolic language. The technical execution relies on cross-stitch embroidery—a method she chose specifically for its capacity to render interior impulses visible and tangible while infusing the creative process itself with feelings of wellbeing and joy.
Exhibition History
From 2016 onward, Ohurtsova’s work has gained broader recognition. In 2016, she participated in the OpenArt competition, organized by the Associazione Culturale Studio d’Arte G. Morabito of Rome, with an exhibition at the Teatro dei Dioscuri at the Quirinale in Rome. Beginning in 2019, she began collaborating with D’E.M. Venice Art Gallery, participating in their Christmas collective exhibition alongside other gallery-affiliated artists. Throughout 2019, her works appeared in multiple exhibitions at D’E.M. Venice Art Gallery and other Venetian venues, including shows titled “La Bauta d’oro,” “Espressione Donna,” and “Soggetti e Trame.”
Frequently asked questions
What artistic techniques does Ohurtsova use?
Ohurtsova combines abstract expressionism with the traditional technique of cross-stitch embroidery, using geometry and symbolism to translate inner emotional states into visual form.
When did Ohurtsova move to Venice?
She relocated to Venice in 2003 after years of travel, and has lived and worked there since.
Where has her work been exhibited?
Her exhibitions include venues in Venice such as D’E.M. Venice Art Gallery and Hotel Charming Santa Fosca, as well as the Teatro dei Dioscuri at the Quirinale in Rome.