Early Life & Foundation

Yuliia Khovbosha is a Canadian-based sculptor, born in 1989 in Petrove, Kirovohrad region, Ukraine. In the spring of 2022, she was forced to leave her home in a suburb of Kyiv due to the threat of occupation and active military operations in the area. This displacement ultimately led to her relocation to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2023. This experience has significantly shaped her artistic perspective, reinforcing her focus on themes of fragility, resilience, and the interconnection between humans and nature.

She holds a Bachelor of Audiovisual Arts with a specialization in Cinematography and Video Production from Kyiv International University (2010). Her academic training focused on directing for film and television. Before transitioning to visual art full-time, she worked as a TV director for several national broadcasters in Ukraine. It gave her a solid grounding in visual storytelling that continues to shape her sculptural work.

Artistic Evolution

Yuliia started sculpting in 2014, focusing on highly realistic polymer clay and cold porcelain flowers. What began as a study of plants has grown into a practice covering over a hundred plant species she has sculpted, and expanding into the animal realm.

She chose sculpture because it allows her to explore art from many angles, rather than being limited to a flat surface. Inspired by nature’s small details, she uses various materials and techniques to express the complexity of the world.

Artistic Philosophy & Themes

In addition to environmental ideas, Yuliia explores personal themes like gender equality, wartime struggles, and the challenges of forced migration, drawn from her experience. Her works reflect the beauty and fragility of nature, but also its strength and resilience. This duality symbolically echoes human nature.

To bring her vision to life, she’s always looking for new materials and even develops her exclusive tools. This approach allows her to expand what’s possible in mixed-media clay sculpture.

Recognition & Achievements

Her works have been exhibited in online and offline art exhibitions, including “What Is Art?” at Boomer Gallery, London, UK, “Hi! Hey! Hello.” at The Dog and Bone Gallery, Brighton, UK, and the 6th Annual Leaves and Petals Art Exhibition by Fusion Art Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, USA, where her sculpture “Vicious Circle of Life” was awarded 3rd place.

She was included in the Norval Morrisseau Award for Visual Arts 2023 nominees longlist, recognizing her contribution to contemporary Canadian art. Yuliia Khovbosha’s art has also been published in  Artwork Gallery Magazine  and other international press, and has been featured in curator-selected collections on Saatchi Art.

She is a member of CARFAC National and CARFAC Maritimes, VANS (Visual Arts Nova Scotia), and Craft Nova Scotia (formerly the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council), contributing to the vibrant Canadian arts community.