Liliya Muglia
Artist Statement – Liliya Muglia
Historical Context:
I was born in Ukraine and began studying classical art at the age of nine. While living in L’viv, Ukraine, I earned a master’s degree in pharmacy. However, following the Chernobyl explosion and the subsequent economic collapse, I migrated to Canada in 1987. There, I re-qualified as a pharmacist at the University of Toronto. In 2013, I graduated from the Academy of Realist Art (ARA) and also studied at the Angel Academy in Florence under Maestro John Angel. Today, I have left the field of pharmacy and dedicate myself full-time to my art, operating my studio in Toronto, Canada. As a classically trained professional artist, I utilize realism to support my imaginative vision, drawing from personal life experiences and my traditional Ukrainian heritage, while also considering art’s potential contribution to humanity.
Method:
My preferred medium is oil paint, and I develop themes with a narrative approach, similar to a writer crafting a novel. I explore main and supporting characters, experimenting with composition and color schemes. To create a foundation for my final artworks, I create preliminary studies using charcoal and conte with real models, considering various perspectives, settings, clothing, accessories, and attributes.
The goal of my work is to transform subjects into narratives, capturing the subtleties of the human condition. By doing so, I bring to life paintings that involve and engage the viewer through interpretive realistic portrayals within an imaginatively disrupted reality. My art is a statement of my thoughts, fears, and desires, presenting the viewer with my artistic vision of a transformed reality.
Artistic Motifs:
My creative motifs often emphasize the power and beauty of feminine interpretations. These interpretations can be found in the depictions of feminine forms, whether they contain human subjects or not. Additionally, each piece is painted with a sense of tension in mind, which is felt by the viewer. While the characters may sometimes struggle, fail, or even perish, the strength of the feminine protagonist is always present.
Art in the 21st Century:
In response to disillusionment with conceptual and post-modern art in the late 20th century, many artists have returned to traditional figurative representation to engage their audience on a deeper level. These artists often study in ateliers, following the curriculum of the Old French Academy (17th to 19th century), to acquire the technical skills of the old masters. I am among these artists who have embraced the traditional forms of classical academic interpretation, allowing for new and modern interpretations of realism.
My works arise from the prism of my thoughts, executed with precision and transformative representation, inspiring imagination and affirmation in the viewer’s mind. I aim to change artistic preferences in favor of aesthetically refined artwork that encourages creative interplay, making the viewer a co-author involved in the process of creation. Ultimately, this shapes taste and preferences, regardless of age, wealth, or knowledge. Everyone deserves to partake in and own the beauty of art.
PUBLICATIONS & AWARDS:
2020 Richeson Competition Still Life Finalist
2020 15th ARC Salon Competition Still Life Finalist
2020 Portrait Society of Canada Portrait Certificate of Merit Award
2020 Pingyao Online Art Exhibition Figurative Gold Award in Oil Painting
2021 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Landscape Featured Painting
2021 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Figurative Featured Painting
2021 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Flowers Still Life Featured Painting
2021 Portrait Society of Canada Portrait Best in Show Award
2022 16th ARC Salon Competition Imaginative Realism Semi-Finalist
2022 Portrait Society of Canada Portrait Certificate of Excellence Award
- July 6, 2023
