Ulyana Nesheva

On 14 July 2019, Nesheva collaborated with the Ukrainian jewelry brand Côte & Jeunot and launched the capsule collection of accent pendants and earrings. Her illustrations were transformed into gold and silver pieces with a commitment to exceptional craftsmanship.

On 4 February 2017, Nesheva opened her own tattoo studio "Nesheva Art Room" in Kiev. In November 2019, she became a member of the National Tattoo Association of Ukraine and a judge in the first online tattoo festival in Ukraine.

In 2017, Nike had released a white collection which consisted of brand's main hits – from the dream of all Nike Air Max 90 mods to those designed specifically for Nike Cortez athletes, where Nesheva was a model to represent Air Force 1. In 2018, Nesheva was invited to take a part in the collaboration project of Puma and Buro 24/7.

In 2016, Ukrainian art dealer, Anna Turayeva, offered Nesheva to exhibit series of her works at the "Art Basel", the premier art show of the Americas offering a premier platform for renowned artists. Five of Nesheva's paintings: "Pigeon Lady", "A Girl in A Musk", "Black Flame", "Birch", "Skull" and "Eyes" are displayed in Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, to this day. In December 2016, Nesheva presented her paintings at the art exhibition within the Fashion Air Days at the Contemporary Art Center M17, Kiev.

In March 2015, Nesheva created illustrations for the book of poetry "Island Being" by Artash Adriasov.

In 2014, despite of being one of the most prominent Ukrainian painters of her time, Nesheva started a career of a tattoo artist. In 2017, she opened her tattoo studio "Nesheva Art Room" in Kiev. Nesheva is consistently cited as one of the best and sought-after minimalist tattoo artist of Ukraine, known for her long branches tattoos and floral style. Nesheva's clientele includes some of the most famous Ukrainian artists, such as Nadya Dorofeeva, Evgeny Filatov, Nata Zhizhchenko and Irina Gorovaya. Within the last years, Nesheva has broadened her artistic reach, expanding her work in the areas of fashion and graphic design.

In 2014, despite her success as a painter, Nesheva decided to try herself in the other shape of art, as she stated: "Once I felt the need for a new way of self-realization, and I decided to dive into Tattoo art. As a result, intriguing acquaintance grew into love of life. For me, tattooing is primarily art, and when art is transformed into an integral part of the personality, it causes delight." She got her first tattoo of a cat on the shoulder at 16, in the unknown studio in Kerch. However, Nesheva's interest in Tattoo art raised to the new level, when her friend, Andrei Bezpamyatny, who is a realism tattoo artist, showed her how to use the machine. It took her two days to learn and she mastered her skills by making her first tattoo on herself, of two-headed girl in a dress, which represents a close connection with her sister.

On April 2014, Greter Art Centre, Kiev, organized the exhibition "Phoenix. Rebirth". Nesheva was one of the four artists presented: Maria Krivopishina, Petra Rubar, a world-renowned sculptor Dmitry Yves, whose works are in the private collection of Patricia Cass and Monica Bellucci. This exhibition is relevant for socio-cultural development and society in general, as it brings up the subject of contrast of the external and internal state of the soul, entering a new level of perception. While "Phoenix. Rebirth" exhibition bears the theme of rebirth, restoration, artists' work illustrates the ambiguous idea of death for the sake of life. The essence of the exhibition is to show the transition from the past to the present and such an ephemeral future.

On June 2014, Greter Art Centre hosted another extensive exhibit "Illusion...Reality?" Nesheva was among two other represented artists: Liliya Isyk and Petra Rybar. Nesheva designates her series of paintings as a "dramatic story, which is full of subtle emotion and photographic accuracy of the image." As stated by Darina Fialko for "Ukurier" magazine: "Among the exhibited work of Nesheva, one can fall in love with black and white paintings, which, as stated in the press release, are "silent out loud". Every brush stroke gives you chills, as if canvases speak to the viewer differently: loudly and in whispers, strictly and sensually."

In 2013, Nesheva participated in Modern Art Festival, Kiev. In 2013, Nesheva had "Retrospective" exhibition at Mainstream Girls Gallery, Kiev. This exhibition lionized the artist, brought into full public view the scope of her old and unseen artistry, and became a turning point, which marked the beginning of a new period of the author's work. On 29 November 2013, Nesheva was one of the painters presented in the "Hype" exhibition at Kosoy Kaponir Fortress, Kiev.

Nesheva built a repertoire in the fashion business as well. In 2012, Nesheva made clear her interest to work in the clothing design industry, as she stated: "It was always difficult for me to find simple clothes that would not distract from my face. Therefore, I've decided to create my own brand: things so simple that they could be called clothing sketches, but I was solo involved in design and visual part." She launched the clothing line "NESHEVA Sketch Clothing" with her friend, Valeriya, however, the partnership ended six months later, but Nesheva's involvement in the fashion world was not over. In 2015, Nesheva collaborated with Ukrainian label TTSWTRS, as the baseline for each new collection of brand was works of acclaimed tattoo artists from all over the world. She created sensual minimalist drawings to combine with the clothes organically, as brand preserves clothing as a second skin and tattoos as the only true way to decorate it, which demonstrates self-expression and freedom in the collections.

In 2012, Nesheva took part in Festival of Contemporary arts "Art Olimp", Kiev, and in the "First Odessa International Festival of the Arts", Odessa. On 14 March 2012, Nesheva's painting "Blue Dog" was presented as a lot at the charity fundraising event "Share the warmth of the soul with a four-legged friend" to raise money for the charitable foundation "Sirius", the animal shelter.

On 22 November 2012, Nesheva had her second exhibition "DRAMA" at Mystetskyi Prostir 365 Gallery, Kiev. Nesheva said about her work: "Souls lost in love, in prostration. Weightlessness. Passion. Grace. With / without faces, without masks, without borders ... “DRAMA” is a series of paintings depicting semi-naked female bodies. But this is by no means blatant vulgarity and not even eroticism – it's just a woman. Alive woman, packed in silence. Each of these bodies cary an emotion that seeks attention and comfort, which is not able to break free. These paintings are silent, but silent loudly." On December 2012, Nesheva's paintings "Woman" and "No Thoughts" were published in the "City" magazine.

In 2011, Nesheva presented her work in Petersburg Art Week, Russia. In June 2011, she made a Studio space in her Kiev apartment, where she commenced a series of paintings for her upcoming personal exhibition. The first retrospective to be held of her work was the "NoConcept" exhibition at Mystetskyi Prostir 365 Gallery, Kiev, in 2011. On 7 December 11, two paintings "Chichkan's Skull" and "Eyes" from "NoConcept" collection were sold on the auction for the private collections of Vasily Bondarchuk and Alena Vinnitskaya where Vladimir Dantes was the auctionist. Traditionally, the interpretation of Nesheva's works at the visual level comes from the subdued emotional tone of what they represent compared to what is actually depicted. For example, as stated by Art Ukraine, "In Contemporary art, which is so closely relying on text and ideas, the lack of concept is perceived as concept. That is why the title of Nesheva's project, "NoConcept", may seem as just another non-conformist game, "rebellious art". But at this show, unlike with most Contemporary art, you won't find anything that speaks of protest, or urges one to do something. Most of the works, presented at the show, are portraits. That is – representations of people's faces, something that in art-history is usually (and sometimes mistakenly) named "portrait". But these are not portraits of real people and not even collective images. Done in photorealist way but still not completely following the conventions of the technique, her characters do not lack realness. These ‘molds’ of reality seem very much like hand of prehistorical men in caves – they exist no matter who and why there were made."

Nesheva is a versatile artist, she produced over 50 paintings in her career in addition to creating illustrations for books, a great number of drawings, graphics and various projects. This is a partial list of important artworks produced by Nesheva from 2011 to 2013.

Following her education at the Academy of Design and Arts KSADA in Kharkov, Nesheva moved to Kiev, where she experienced a rampant growth as a painter. In the subsequent years since her premiere in 2010, Nesheva hosted 6 solo exhibitions and created over 50 paintings. Her paintings are displayed to this day in private galleries of Ukraine, in the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami as well as in private collections.

Nesheva began her artist career in the early 20s, exploring a variety of painting techniques and creating graphic arts primarily for local publications. Eventually, she developed a style that combined absolute isolation, "conservation" of meanings, crazy play of color pallette, photographic accuracy, which still does not cross the line of photorealism and the ability to let the viewer in. Her breakthrough as an artist, Nesheva did in June 2010, when she won the first place in Kyiv Art Week; the same year she displayed her work at Berlin Art Week.

In the subsequent years since her debut, Nesheva has taken an increasingly experimental approach in her stylistic shifts. Within the six years period, from 2010 to 2016, Nesheva had six personal exhibitions and created over 50 paintings. Her approach to artwork is consistently rich, nuanced and thought-provoking. To this day, Nesheva's artwork can be found at Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami and mostly in the private collections.

Her breakthrough as an artist, Nesheva made in 2010, when her painting "Blue Blood" took the first place and traveled to Berlin Art Week. In particular Leonora Yanko, a Ukrainian gallerist, was impressed by her work and invited Nesheva to have her first solo exhibition, that opened on May 2011 at Hudgraf Art Gallery, Kiev.

Nesheva's transition from being an unknown painter to becoming a prosperous artist took place in a short space of time. In 2008, she moved to Kiev and started working on her first big art piece. In June 2010, Nesheva participated in Kyiv Art Week, an international art week of contemporary art fair, where she was noticed by various critics and curators.

In 2000, Nesheva moved to Kharkov, where she enrolled to Academy of Design and Arts KSADA. At age 16, Nesheva set off for the first time on her own; as she stated: "First thing I did was buying a canvas and a couple of oil paints tubes, and that was the moment when I've found my direction as an artist. Since then, I only work with oil painting, as acrylic paint same as gouache, doesn't have an inner strength in it for me." At the same time, she became interested in film photography and graphic arts; she continued mastering her skills as an artist by extensively producing many illustrations, lithographs and conceptual photography series.

Her grandmother, Angelina Volozhnina, instilled a love for art in her young granddaughter by taking her to art museums in Dresden, where Nesheva got inspired by Raphael masterpiece the Sistine Madonna. In 1990, she enrolled in the Roman Serdiuk's School of Fine arts. Nesheva showed a passion and a skill for drawing from an early age. Her teachers, including artist Victor Zaporozhec, noticed her artistic abilities, and mother encouraged her talent and any creative endeavors. In May 1998, at the age of fifteen, Nesheva graduated as an external student from Zhelyabov High school in Kerch. In 1999, Nesheva started taking private classes from Ukrainian academic artist Tatyana Dydnik.

Ulyana Akhsarbekovna Nesheva (born on 26 November 1983; Ukrainian: Уляна Нєшева) is a Ukrainian contemporary painter and tattoo artist, born in Kerch, Crimea, Ukrainian SSR.

Ulyana Nesheva was born on 26 November 1983, in Kerch. She was the second child in the family. Her elder sister, Kseniya Mikhaylova is a professional translator. She is of Ossetian, Ukrainian and Russian ancestry. Her mother, Tatiana Kumaritova, who is an antiquarian, was born in Novosibirsk, Russia, and her father, Akhsarbek Kumaritov, who is a sailor on tanker, was born in the village of Kohat, South Ossetia. Her parents got married in April 1981 and stayed in Kerch.