Spotlight: Mom I’m Not a Transvestite, I Do Art

Artist Statement

I’m very interested in the inner worlds of other people—that’s the main reason why impressionistic portraiture is the basis of my artwork. I deny the stereotypes of appearance and gender and paint boys with makeup and earrings. I like watching people’s reactions to my work because boys with makeup, bright clothes, or jewelry are still considered something indecent. In my country, the Ukraine, it’s very difficult to explain why a guy puts on make up or wears a woman’s blouse. If he does so, he’s considered a nasty homosexual. I want to paint these boys how I see them, without the shame of the outsider’s opinion clouding their image.