“Freedom to be myself and express my own vision and style the way I feel it, is the most inspiring thing to me.”
A Voice Through Texture and Time
Olga Ozerskaya’s path into the world of contemporary art did not begin in a traditional studio or gallery, but through the structured elegance of interior design. Born and classically trained in Moscow, she developed an early appreciation for visual harmony at the renowned Tretyakov Gallery, where she immersed herself in the fundamentals of classical painting. Her early studies sharpened her ability to translate emotional nuance into visual form, a skill that would later distinguish her artistic voice. Relocating to the UK for her secondary education, she encountered modern European art at King Williams College, an experience that pushed her to explore abstraction and conceptual narratives. Further academic pursuits at Moscow State University, where she earned a dual degree in Art Business and Aesthetics, enabled her to view art through a broader socio-economic lens, aligning theory with practice in a way that would prove foundational for her multidisciplinary approach.
Before committing fully to art, Ozerskaya ran a successful high-end interior design firm, Omdesign, specializing in international turnkey projects. This background gave her a nuanced understanding of space, material, and environmental context—an understanding that now breathes life into her fine art. Her artworks are not confined to the canvas; they are conceived as experiences that interact with their surroundings. Design, for her, was never separate from artistic expression—it was a prelude. A visit to Miami’s Design Miami Fair introduced her serendipitously to Art Basel, an encounter that reignited her lifelong passion for art. Though she had been practicing and studying since childhood, it was in this moment of inspiration that the possibility of art as a full-time pursuit crystallized.
Her transition into fine art was also shaped by her time as a studio assistant to Russian abstractionist Sergey Bruhanov during her university years. The shift from academic precision to expressive experimentation altered her perception of what art could be. Bruhanov’s layered, emotive process encouraged her to abandon rigidity and embrace intuition, allowing for organic discovery on the canvas. This formative experience opened the door to a more fluid, genre-crossing creative process—one where color, material, and structure interact freely, reflecting inner landscapes and cultural inquiry alike.
Olga Ozerskaya: The Architecture of Identity
Ozerskaya’s identity as a multidisciplinary artist allows her to move fluidly between projects without binding herself to a singular style. She prefers to create in conceptual series, each one distinct yet interconnected by a central philosophical or emotional inquiry. Among her most defining works is the “Women Archetypes” series—a project born out of a moment of public solidarity during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Displaying a yellow hydrangea with the phrase “Stay Strong” in New York’s public spaces, she was moved by the public’s reaction, particularly a request for a personalized version bearing the words “Love Always Wins.” That encounter sparked the realization that art could serve as a form of communal healing, prompting her to develop a collection that honored the complexity of womanhood through floral symbolism and emotional storytelling.
Drawing inspiration from Carl Jung’s psychological archetypes, Ozerskaya reinterprets these universal figures through a feminine lens. Each piece in the “Women Archetypes” series is centered around a flower selected not for its aesthetic alone, but for its symbolic resonance. A sunflower might signify inner strength; a peony could suggest quiet resilience. These artworks serve not only as visual compositions but as emotional mirrors, offering viewers a chance to see themselves reflected in forms that speak to their own lived experiences. In doing so, Ozerskaya elevates her art beyond representation, turning it into a dialogue between the personal and the collective.
The next evolution of this series is a coffee table book, currently in development, that pairs the full collection with short texts reflecting on the emotional and symbolic weight of each archetype. Designed as both a visual journey and an introspective tool, the book aims to help readers identify with different facets of their inner selves. It’s not intended as a catalogue, but as a quiet, affirming presence in the reader’s home—a tactile expression of empathy and empowerment. For Ozerskaya, this project encapsulates her core belief that art should not just be seen, but felt and lived with.
The Elemental Pulse of Materials
Ozerskaya’s materials are as intentional as her themes. During the pandemic, when supply chains were disrupted and many art materials became unavailable, she turned to natural resources—collecting sand, shells, and minerals to create pigments. This shift led to the development of her “Blue Series,” a meditative body of work informed by the depth and stillness of the ocean. The experience profoundly deepened her connection to nature, which she now regards not just as a source of inspiration but as an artistic collaborator. For her, working with elements gathered from the earth is a form of spiritual grounding—a way to tether creativity to the cycles of the natural world.
Despite her affinity for traditional materials, Ozerskaya is equally drawn to the possibilities of digital media. She embraces technology not as a contradiction to organic creation, but as an extension of it. Using digital tools, she can simulate variations, test compositions, and even craft immersive installations that respond to time, space, or viewer interaction. This dual practice allows her to balance precision with spontaneity, creating works that feel both contemporary and timeless. Whether working with raw canvas or pixels, she remains focused on emotional authenticity.
Her studio is a space of balance between chaos and clarity. She often describes creativity as emerging from disorder, requiring the artist to shape it into coherence. Her workspace includes abundant natural light, calming music, a large desk, and easy access to her chosen materials. These elements allow her to enter a state of focus where distraction becomes fuel rather than friction. She sees interruptions not as barriers but as part of the process—reminders that life’s unpredictability can be harnessed into new directions of thought and form.
Olga Ozerskaya: Explorations in Movement and Meaning
Ozerskaya is consistently drawn to the idea of movement—both physical and emotional—as a source of inspiration and meaning. This is evident not only in her abstract compositions but also in her evolving exploration of installation and digital art. Her upcoming projects seek to merge physical and virtual dimensions, using immersive environments to deepen emotional engagement. She envisions spaces where viewers do more than observe—they participate, reflect, and even influence the outcome. This interactive potential fuels her interest in digital formats, not as gimmicks, but as ways to echo the impermanence and fluidity of natural life.
Her artistic influences are as diverse as her practice. She reveres figures like Helen Frankenthaler and Joan Mitchell for their raw, intuitive abstraction and sees kinship with artists like Rashid Johnson and Rick Lowe, who infuse contemporary practice with cultural narrative and social commentary. The recent Olga de Amaral exhibition in Miami left a strong impression on her, affirming her interest in the tactile dimension of art—how texture can become a language of its own. These encounters continually inform her creative process, reaffirming her belief that inspiration is a conversation between the past and present, between one artist’s vision and another’s response.
Looking ahead, Ozerskaya is excited by the possibilities of bringing her work to new audiences and geographies. She is particularly drawn to Mexico as a future site for artistic exploration, drawn by its cultural richness and organic beauty. Whether through a new installation, a digital piece, or her long-awaited book, her focus remains unwavering: to craft art that speaks to the inner landscapes of the viewer. For her, the work begins with emotion and ends with connection—art not as a product, but as an offering, a shared experience shaped by color, texture, and time.
