ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
My name is Maksym Kulikov, and I am a Ukrainian artist. I invite you into my world of thoughts, dreams, emotions, and harmony.
As an illustrator and artist, I focus on portrait and figurative illustration, where I strive to capture character, emotions, the beauty of the human body, and the dynamics of movement. I often combine different materials and graphic techniques such as graphite, watercolor, ink, pastel, and ballpoint pen, occasionally adding gold leaf to give my works a unique shine and individual character.
In my abstract works, I explore emotions and inner experiences. I call this process "controlled chaos"—a search for balance between internal disorder and external harmony. Paint splattering, pouring, impulsive strokes, and chaotic forms eventually intertwine into intricate networks of random lines and spots, harmonizing with the space and creating an atmosphere that inspires and brings satisfaction. I primarily work with acrylic, ink, and pastel to convey these dynamic contrasts and emotional depth.
CV
CV
Solo Exhibitions:
2024 - “Circle of War” New St. Thomas Church. Soest, Germany.
Group Exhibitions:
2024 - „Zurück in die Zukunft" - Galerie des Kunstvereins, Soest, Germany. Collective exhibition of artists from Soest in the Netherlands and Soest in the German region.
2023 - “ILLUMINATE” - online exhibition
2023 - “Colors of Life,” Art Space “Mystetskyi.” Kyiv, Ukraine
2023 - “On the Sails of Dreams,” Center for Ukrainian Culture and Arts. Kyiv, Ukraine
2020 - “Magic of Art,” Gallery “Mytets”
Publications:
2024 - Newspaper “Soester Anzeiger”. “Children See the City": an exhibition and posters created after the workshop
2024 - Exhibition catalog „Zurück in die Zukunft" an artistic encounter between artists from Soest/NL and Soest/D
2024 - Newspaper “Soester Anzeiger” Die Farben des Krieges
Kunstverein präsentiert den ukrainischen Künstler Maksym Kulikov.
2023 - Magazine “Artist Closeup” №12
Education:
1994-2000 - National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (KPI), Faculty of Printing, Illustration and Book Graphics.
1984-1994 - Kyiv Art School No. 1, Secondary Art School No. 5. Basic Art Education.
Private Collections: Ukraine, Romania, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Netherlands, USA.