Artist of the Month: June 2026
Visual Artist
Based in Calgary, Alberta
Artist Bio
Kateryna Pysarenko is a Ukrainian visual artist based in Calgary, specializing in watercolor. Her practice explores the symbiotic relationship between the external world and the internal landscape, examining how our environment reshapes our mental states and how, in turn, our inner world colors our perception of reality. Holding a Master’s degree in Design, Kateryna spent over a decade in professional print and surface design before fully transitioning to fine art. She treats the medium as a partner in a dialogue, balancing spontaneous transparency with intentional control. Her work often utilizes layering as a metaphor for memory—where the past remains visible beneath the present, reflecting a complex narrative of identity and transformation. Since relocating to Canada, Kateryna has become an active voice in the local arts community, showcasing her work in solo and group exhibitions and sharing her expertise as a watercolor instructor.
Artist Background
My artistic path began in Ukraine with a childhood spent in art school—not just to paint, but to find a sense of belonging within a creative community. While my heart belonged to fine art, I chose a career in design as a practical compromise, leading to a decade-long path in print production for apparel and tableware. Although I value the digital possibilities of design, I eventually found myself longing for the tactile, physical interaction with materials that only manual work provides. Moving to Calgary brought a period of profound uncertainty, and I initially feared I might lose my connection to painting. However, I found myself returning to watercolor as a form of self-therapy. The process became a meditative space that helped me find calm and stability amidst the challenges of displacement. Today, my practice remains a vital tool for self-identification and navigating my new reality.
Your artistic journey has taken you from Ukraine to Calgary, moving between design and fine art along the way. How has this journey shaped who you are as an artist today?
My background in design gave me a very structured vision of life. My early focus on interior design and ergonomics, followed by years in graphic and print design, shaped my ability to see the whole picture. I understand how to manage a project from a technical idea to final realization—whether it’s a textile print or the spatial layout of an exhibition.
The unplanned move to Calgary left me feeling lost, searching for something to hold on to. This need for 'grounding' led to my series 'Environs' and 'Winter Walks'—my way of connecting with this new land. At the same time, I found stability in human connections, which inspired the 'Healing Letters' project, where I work with shared memories and photos.
Immigration also brought my identity as a Ukrainian woman to the forefront, forming the basis of my series “"Deep Radiance" and “Warm Memories.” Today, my art is a continuous process of balancing that professional, functional structure with a constant inner search for belonging and emotional honesty.
Watercolor is known for its unpredictability and fluidity. What draws you to this medium, and how do you embrace both its control and its chaos in your work?
I have a long history with watercolor. In art school, I learned it through strict academic control, and back then, I didn't really 'get' it. But later, through doing dozens of sketches per day, I finally felt its wildness and realized I could be so expressive in the process.
Also, with oil painting, I found myself constantly over-correcting, never able to finish a piece. Watercolor changed that for me. It has a natural limit—a point where you simply must stop. It forces you to be decisive.
I always loved watercolor, but for a long time, I saw it only as a tool for studies. It took years to discover the global community and give myself 'internal permission' to dive into it as my main medium. I adore the balance of control and spontaneity in it. To me, it’s a perfect metaphor for life: some things we can plan, and others we just have to let happen.
You often describe your process as a dialogue with the material. Can you share a moment when watercolor led you somewhere unexpected?
To be honest, that happens with almost every piece I create! I always start with a partial plan in my head—the main composition and sometimes the tonal range—but the process itself is always a meditative state.
I move by feeling, following where the water wants to go. There are moments when I feel a sudden urge to pour more water, letting the paint create its own magic, and I simply follow that lead. Only at the very end do I step back to add details or make final corrections. It’s a constant dialogue where I listen to the paper and the water as much as I guide them.
Layering plays a powerful role in your paintings, often reflecting memory and identity. How do these layers mirror your personal journey and evolving sense of self?
In my practice, the interplay between transparent layering and saturated, solid washes serves as a visual metaphor for the complexity of identity. To me, this reflects the imperfections of life and the idea that we always carry our history with us. Our past and the environment we grew up in constantly influence how we perceive the present. Sometimes the past 'shines through' more strongly; other times, the 'now' is more powerful, saturating the moment with new energy.
What is one project or body of work you are most proud of so far, and what makes it especially meaningful to you?
I am naturally very critical of my work, so for me, every finished painting feels like a victory. Behind each completed piece are many others that remain unstartled—ideas lost in the search for a balance between daily responsibilities and doubts about my own artistic value.
I wouldn’t say I am 'proud' of one specific project over others, as I don’t want to diminish the importance of the rest. However, at this moment, the birds from my 'Winter Walks' series and the piece titled '5:34 a.m.' feel closest to my internal reality. I also love my series 'Journey Through Time,' which was used for metaphorical cards. It is more illustrative in style, but I enjoy the moments when I can connect fine art with something practical.
Looking ahead, what ideas, themes, or projects are you most excited to explore next in your practice?
Currently, I am developing a new series that extends the concept of 'grounding', but with a specific focus on the non-artistic jobs I have held since arriving in Canada.
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