- Olha Svieshnikova, a Ukrainian refugee living in Sandy, finds hope through art.
- Her paintings, inspired by emotions, have gained attention from galleries globally.
- Svieshnikova's resilience is highlighted by her involvement with Women of the World.
SANDY – A Ukrainian refugee living here in Utah is getting attention for her artwork.
That creative outlet has helped Olha Svieshnikova navigate the stress of living in a new place – and uncertainty about the future.
Svieshnikova lives with her mother and son in Sandy. They left their home in Ukraine and came to Utah four years ago after Russia invaded, upending their lives.
While adjusting to a new place and new language, Svieshnikova has found new purpose through art. Her apartment is full of paint, canvases and colorful expressions of how she feels.
"This is my life," she said. "This is my soul."
These paintings, Svieshnikova said, have literally saved her at a time when life isn't easy.
"It helps preserve me," she said, noting that her art allows her to get through difficult or depressing times. "I don't ever plan what I'm going to draw. It comes from my inner state, my emotions and intuition."
Resilience amid difficulty
While in Utah, Svieshnikova has worked with Women of the World, a nonprofit organization that helps refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants.
"Olha is special, I think, because of her resilience," said Sydney Whitby, one of the organization's case managers. "Life is hard (here in Utah). She has a tough job, long hours, all of those things. But she doesn't let that stop her from building her dream against all the odds."
That dream is art. Svieshnikova started an Instagram account to showcase her artwork and quickly received attention from galleries in the U.S. and abroad. She sells her work, and she's currently competing in the Johnny Depp People's Artist contest.
"She's not asking for charity," Whitby said. "She's asking for support."
Art has also helped Svieshnikova navigate the stress of uncertainty. Her family's humanitarian parole, allowing them to live in the U.S., is set to end soon, and she's trying to renew it. But moves from the Trump administration have made that more difficult.
"I'm very grateful to the country, America," she said. "I'm very grateful that they gave us the opportunity – not just my family, but to Ukrainians – to save our lives and be safe. It's unbelievable."
But, she noted, it's difficult to plan for the future.
"How can we build our lives, our futures, when we aren't confident about what will be tomorrow?" she said.
Still, for Svieshnikova, the most important thing is that she and her family are healthy and safe. She said she wants to show people through her example that they never need to give up.
"If you have life, if you have health, whatever happens in life, get up off your knees and just go," she said. "That's it."
And helping Svieshnikova through it all is her art.
"It's where there's chaos and harmony," she said.
