10 Questions with Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE22 | Featured Artist
Natalia Yuresko-Bilous - Portrait
Natalia Yuresko-Bilous is a Ukrainian artist from Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, a historic town on the Black Sea coast, whose ancient fortress and scenic landscapes had a profound influence on her artistic vision. She earned a Master’s degree in fine arts and teaching in 2001. Natalia has been participating in exhibitions since 1998, holding solo and group exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad. In 2008, she founded her own art school and gallery in Ukraine, where she taught young artists. After moving to the United States in 2022, she continued to exhibit actively and became a member of the Hollis Arts Association and Nashua Area Artists Association. In 2026, Natalia became a jury member of Curatone.art. She also gave an interview for Visual Art Journal, and her artworks were featured in a digital art presentation at Times Square. Since 2025, she has been living and working on the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria. Her paintings are held in private collections in many countries around the world.
ARTIST STATEMENT
In her work, the artist places a strong emphasis on light as the central expressive element. Through it, she reveals the beauty of the surrounding world and invites the viewer to pause, truly observe what often goes unnoticed, sit in quiet reflection, and become aware of the fleeting nature of time. At the same time, the artist guides the viewer toward a deeper level of perception, where light becomes a symbol of the spiritual realm. Within this light emerges a sense of an inner journey and the salvation of the soul, something that transcends time and moves toward eternity.
On the ferry, oil on canvas, 50x70 cm, 2022 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
AL-TIBA9 ART MAGAZINE ISSUE22
DISCOVER THE INTERNATIONAL ART SCENE WITH AL-TIBA9
LIMITED EDITION | Shipping worldwide.
Premium museum art paper.
Printed in London.
Grab 3 or more prints and get your FREE digital magazine.
Get your limited edition copy now
INTERVIEW
You were born in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, a place with a rich history and connection to the Black Sea. How has this landscape and cultural heritage influenced your artistic vision?
Growing up in my hometown, surrounded by rich history and breathtaking scenery, had a profound influence on my artistic journey. Everything around me naturally found its way onto my canvas.
You studied fine arts and teaching, and later founded your own art school and gallery. How have education and sharing knowledge with others shaped your own artistic practice?
My academic education gave me confidence in the creative process. Studying alongside other artists was equally valuable; we exchanged ideas, inspired one another, and grew together through our artistic journeys.
On the ferry, oil on canvas, 50x70 cm, 2022 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
Light is at the center of your work and often becomes more than a visual element. What does light represent for you, both emotionally and spiritually?
To me, light is, above all, life. Emotionally, it represents hope, warmth, love, and inner peace. Spiritually, it reflects God’s presence, His grace, and His truth. That is why light often becomes the main subject of my paintings.
Your paintings invite viewers to slow down and observe moments that are often overlooked. What inspires you to capture these quiet and fleeting experiences?
I am inspired by simple moments that many people overlook. I believe true beauty is revealed in these quiet experiences. A ray of sunlight, the stillness of the morning, a blossoming tree, or a reflection on the water can speak more deeply than dramatic events. Through my paintings, I hope to preserve these moments and remind viewers that happiness and God’s grace are often found in life’s quiet beauty.
Can you describe your creative process? How does an initial impression, memory, or observation develop into a finished painting?
I believe that nature is the greatest teacher for an artist. Everything begins with direct observation, light, colour, and the mood of nature. These first impressions become the foundation of each painting. As I work, I strive to preserve not only what I see but also the emotions the moment awakened in me. For me, a painting is not a copy of reality but an expression of its living beauty and light.
A foggy day, oil on canvas, 24x30 cm, 2026 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
Open sky, oil on canvas, 40x50 cm, 2025 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
Harbor, oil on canvas, 40x50 cm, 2023 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
Weightlessness, oil on canvas, 30x40 cm, 2026 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
Your work explores the relationship between the visible world and a deeper spiritual dimension. How do you balance realistic observation with the symbolic meanings you want to express?
I do not intentionally include symbolic elements in my work. For me, spiritual meaning naturally emerges through an honest portrayal of nature. The more carefully an artist observes the world, the more deeply its beauty is revealed. I believe that the beauty of creation already speaks of its Creator, and my role is simply to express that beauty through light, colour, and atmosphere.
Having lived and worked in Ukraine, the United States, and now Bulgaria, how have different places and cultural experiences influenced the subjects and emotions in your paintings?
Every country I have lived in has left its mark on my art. Yet despite these changes, the heart of my work has remained the same: the desire to speak through the beauty of the natural world about life, hope, and the light that unites people beyond language and culture.
Your work has been exhibited internationally and included in private collections around the world. How has the response from audiences in different countries shaped your understanding of your art’s universal themes?
The response from viewers in different countries has shown me that the beauty of nature, light, and genuine emotion speaks to everyone, regardless of language or culture. That is why I continue to paint what moves my heart, hoping that my work will also touch the hearts of others.
Sunny beach, oil on canvas, 30x40 cm, 2026 © Natalia Yuresko-Bilous
After decades of artistic practice, what themes or questions continue to inspire you and encourage you to keep exploring new directions?
After many years of creating art, spirituality continues to inspire me. I keep searching for ways to express, through light, nature, and beauty, what words cannot fully convey, God’s love, hope, peace, and joy. This ongoing search makes every new painting meaningful and continually challenges me to grow as an artist.
Looking toward the future, what projects, exhibitions, or artistic goals would you like to pursue in the coming years?
My greatest artistic goal is to create a series of paintings inspired by spiritual themes and present them in a solo exhibition. I want these works to speak about light, faith, hope, and God’s presence in our lives. For me, it is important to create art that not only pleases the eye but also touches the hearts and souls of those who experience it.
Artist’s Talk
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a curated promotional platform that offers artists the opportunity to articulate their vision and engage with our diverse international readership through insightful, published dialogues. Conducted by Mohamed Benhadj, founder and curator of Al-Tiba9, these interviews spotlight the artists’ creative journeys and introduce their work to the global contemporary art scene.
Through our extensive network of museums, galleries, art professionals, collectors, and art enthusiasts worldwide, Al-Tiba9 Interviews provides a meaningful stage for artists to expand their reach and strengthen their presence in the international art discourse.
Nataraj von Allmen is a painter based in Switzerland. Often taking photographic material as a starting point, he weaves together landscapes, mythological archetypes, Christian symbolism, and contemporary socio-political themes into complex paintings. Oscillating between figuration and abstraction, his work investigates transformation, collective memory, and the human condition.