Nikolina Kovalenko, a Brooklyn-based artist, earned her MFA from the Moscow Surikov Art Institute in 2011 and studied at Universität der Künste, Berlin, in 2010. With a Gold Medal from the Russian Art Academy, Kovalenko is deeply concerned with global issues like climate change, coral bleaching, and deforestation, and explores humanity's psychological bond with nature and the environmental impacts of daily actions.

 

Her exhibitions span prestigious venues worldwide, including MOMMA (Moscow Museum of Modern Art) and The Russian Museum, as well as solo showcases at Clark Gallery, Blumka Contemporary, Caldwell Gallery Hudson, and Dacia Gallery. She has exhibited across the USA, UK, UAE, Sweden, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, China, Belgium, and Iceland. Her environmental paintings were featured in Forbes Mexico. 

 

"My work explores humanity’s psychological bond with nature and the environmental impacts of our daily actions. I believe in the ultimate wisdom of nature, learning from it as our past and future. Humans often see themselves as the protagonists in life's story, yet we are merely a brief chapter in the vast encyclopedia of existence. Nature guides us to recognize our true place in the interconnected web of life, where our differences are not obstacles but essential connections. It reveals the secret of transformation by showing how inner contradictions, like fire and water, can coexist and complement each other.

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I am fascinated by how we integrate nature into mythologies and cultural beliefs. Historically, when we couldn’t comprehend a natural event or phenomenon, we elevated it to divine status in search of clarity. Now, despite our advanced understanding of the world's physics, we have not achieved greater harmony. I seek this harmony, creating paintings that transport viewers to utopian worlds where plants and corals flourish and trust prevails.

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I'm hopeful my work will bring viewers awareness, curiosity, awe, joy, and a sense of shared responsibility for our beautiful, delicate planet Earth."

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Kovalenko's environmental activism extends to projects in the Brazilian Amazon, Iceland, the Andes, the Caribbean, and the Red Sea, collaborating with organizations like Museum Week and UNESCO. Through partnerships with scientists, she aims to creatively communicate the fragility of ecosystems and promote conservation efforts, donating proceeds from select projects to environmental causes.

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