Martа Leshak
Illustrator
Artist and illustrator originally from Kolomyia, currently living and working in Lviv. Studied graphic design at the National University "Lviv Polytechnic". Has been working in the field of illustration and graphic design for nine years.
In her artistic practice, she combines naive painting with elements of traditional Ukrainian iconography, creating unique works that explore themes of spirituality, ecology, and the relationship between humans and nature. She pays special attention to the theme of preserving the Carpathian fauna, in particular the lynx - the largest wild cat in Europe.
Exhibitions
Artist Statement
In my art, I explore the intersection of the sacred and the mundane through the recurring motif of the three-eyed lynx, embodied in a naive artistic style that challenges traditional artistic boundaries. My practice encompasses two distinct but interconnected series that delve into our relationships with nature, spirituality, and artistic freedom.
The series "Sacred Lynxes" reimagines traditional Hutsul icons on glass through an alternative reality where nature attains a divine status. These works playfully subvert religious iconography while raising serious questions about our contemporary spiritual crisis and ecological consciousness. By elevating the lynx — the largest wild cat in Europe and a species threatened with extinction in Ukraine — to a sacred status, I create a visual metaphor for the sanctity of nature. The works offer a world where ecological stewardship carries the weight of religious devotion, prompting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.
My large paintings featuring the three-eyed lynx emerged from personal artistic liberation. What began as an exercise in overcoming creative fear has evolved into an exploration of artistic freedom. Consciously rejecting conventional proportions and "correct" depiction, I seek a new visual language. The third eye serves as a symbol of heightened perception as well as a deliberate departure from realism, inviting viewers to question their own biases regarding artistic expression.
In both series, I employ a naive style that removes academic pretentiousness, allowing for a more direct and emotionally honest engagement with the subject. The lynx, threatened with extinction in its Carpathian habitat due to deforestation, tourism, and trophy hunting, becomes a powerful symbol of nature's vulnerability and resilience. Through these works, I create a meta-universe where animals take on human characteristics, and worship of nature replaces traditional religious hierarchies.
My work posits that in a world where the lynx lives like a human, perhaps people could learn to live more like the lynx — in harmony with their environment and free from self-imposed constraints. This artistic vision serves as a critique of our current ecological crisis and a hopeful glimpse of an alternative way of being.
Contacts
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