Anastasiya Levashova

Artworks

Wishing Star
Watercolour on paper
84 x 59 cm

Powder Flask
Oil and egg tempera on gesso panel
29.7 x 42 cm

Embroidered Tiles
Clay and red iron oxide
80 x 170 cm

Artist Statement

I was born in Ukraine and grew up in a home where art and tradition were a way of life. I’ve painted for as long as I can remember, and worked as an artist in the UK for several years. Studying at the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts has reminded me of something that I had completely forgotten: why did I want to be an artist in the first place?

At The School, I gained a profound understanding of the unifying principles that underlie traditional arts. Traditional art is beyond time and space; it’s not about the end product, it’s about the process, the act of creation itself.

During my first week at The School, I was grinding stones to make pigments, and I thought, ‘This is something I’m doing for the first time.’ However, I started to have flashbacks to my childhood of making paint from everything I could find in nature, for example green stain for from the grass and playing with clay dug up from the earth: in my mother’s garden, in the forest, and by the lake. This memory reminded me that I wanted to be an artist because it simply made me happy. Preparing your own materials is a contemplative practice; it’s like a ritual in a craft tradition. When moving from the inner to the outer, it can bring you to the centre of your own being.

In my second year, I explored materials such as gesso, pigments, various clays, oxides, and ancient techniques and how to prepare them including glazing tiles with milk. This preparation is a manifestation of mystery, a practice that not only connects me to my artistic roots but also brings a profound sense of fulfilment. I have learnt that true mastery lies not in domination but in collaboration with your material, to surrender to the inherent nature of each material, allowing it to guide my hand in its unique dance of creation.

I’ve created tiles from clay with geometrical patterns and paintings inspired by Ukrainian traditions, childhood memories, and moments of déjà vu.

During my first year at The School, I learnt various traditional techniques such as stained glass and iconography, in both of which I began to understand the qualities of dark and light. This allowed me to add luminosity to my work. I’ve experimented with various oxides to paint my clay tiles and created oil paintings that reveal the light within the darkness, and darkness within the light, as there is no separation between them. By layering darkness upon darkness and then illuminating it with bursts of light, I seek to mirror the journey of the spirit—a journey marked by moments of obscurity and revelation, of struggle and triumph.

For me, each stroke of darkness in my oil paintings is a reminder of the inherent complexity of the human spirit, while every burst of light represents the eternal spark of divinity that resides within us all. Similarly, in my ceramics, the varied oxides reflect this duality and unity. Together, these elements form a harmonious whole—a testament to the beauty of the unity that penetrates all things.

I hope those viewing my work will be drawn into the dance of light and shadow, and may they find within them a reflection of their own journey and ultimately be guided by the enduring wisdom of the soul.

Biography

Nastia, born in Kyiv, Ukraine, began her artistic journey the moment she could hold a pencil in her hand. Her passion for sketching and painting led her to study arts in Ukraine as well as in the United Kingdom. In 2014, she graduated with a BA from Camberwell College of Art and has since established herself as an artist and craftsperson in London.

She collaborates with various companies and brands, and exhibits in galleries. Her preferred media include clay, oil, and egg tempera.

Deeply inspired by the wonders of Nature, Nastia fills her world with magic and encourages others to do the same.

This Summer of 2024, Nastia is completing her Master’s degree at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. It was here she discovered authentic techniques and gained a profound understanding of the principles underlying the traditional arts and crafts of the world.

Contact

Instagram @char.even
Website https://www.chareven.co.uk/
Email levashova.uk@gmail.com