Artist Statement

Through my art, I explore survival and adaptation by turning overlooked natural details into focal points that expose nature's interconnections. I also address global issues such as the ecological crisis, war, and gender inequality. Though diverse, these themes share a common root: vulnerability and resilience.

This approach grew from observing nature's survival mechanisms and my experience of war and forced emigration from Ukraine. Both reflect the same metaphor: human endurance, regardless of borders, mirrors nature's ability to recover after destruction and preserve beauty within imperfection.

My sculptural practice combines hyperrealistic conceptual symbolism, surrealism, and a multi-material approach using polymer clay, ceramics, and mixed media. Each material reacts differently, allowing authenticity without limiting choices and emphasizing the layered nature of natural and human experience.

Every detail is hand-sculpted from scratch. This method ensures forensic precision, asserts each element’s uniqueness, rejects ready-made forms, and reveals how meaning emerges through repetitive, labor-intensive work.

Biography

Yuliia Khovbosha is a Ukrainian-Canadian sculptor based in Halifax, NS. Born in 1989 in Ukraine, she was forced to leave her home due to war and relocated to Canada in 2023. This experience shaped her artistic focus on fragility, resilience, and human–nature interconnection.
She holds a Bachelor of Audiovisual Arts in Cinematography and Video Production (2010) and worked as a TV-director for national broadcasters, a background that informs her visual and conceptual approach.
Yuliia began sculpting in 2014, initially focusing on hyperrealistic botanical forms. Her practice spans over one hundred plant species and extends into animal imagery, using polymer, air-dry clays, ceramics, and mixed-media.
Her works are in private collections across 75+ countries and have been exhibited internationally, including London, Brighton, and Palm Springs, where Vicious Circle of Life received third place. She was longlisted for Norval Morrisseau Award (2023), published in 25+ international media, and featured on Saatchi Art.