About olena

Hi, I’m a Ukrainian multi-medium artist living in Nashville, TN. I’m a jeweler at Yearly Co. by day and spend my evenings wrapped up in the project of the week.

My current obsession is my 14k gold Waves and Wonder Collection and I’m always sketching, metal-smithing, stone setting and photographing new pieces for this ocean and star inspired body of work.

While jewelry is my main focus now, just last year I spent over 100 hours painting a collection for a gallery show called Between Shadows. I enjoy many different artistic mediums and have found my way from one to another over the years, experimenting and absorbing all each one has to teach me. Sculpting, watercolor, painted leather, photography, make up artistry, wardrobe styling, - you name it- I’ve either immersed myself in those waters or its on my endless list of things to try.

I enjoy staying busy as much as I love quiet moments of solitude and for me, that’s where inspiration tends to strike. Some of my recurring themes are inspired by the wonders of nature, synchronicity between science and spirituality and the empowerment of the divine feminine.

History

I started drawing when I was about two years old after my family immigrated from Ukraine to New Jersey. You could always find me in a quiet corner with a set of crayons, deeply entranced by my day dreams. Seeing this interest, my Mom enrolled me into a four year private art class when I was ten. It was incredibly foundational to my practice, but aside from that and a few art classes at Rutgers, I’m pretty much self-taught.

Since 2009, I’ve made my way around a few different cities and even more creative fields. Between New York, LA and Nashville, I’ve worked in make-up artistry, photography, wardrobe styling, and creative direction within the music industry. I’ve even been hired for gigs like product sketching and interior design, giving me a unique perspective on custom work and carrying personalization out through various different mediums.