Darina Smolkina

In a world governed by rules—both written and unspoken—Darina Smolkina’s art whispers of quiet rebellion. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, now based in Lisbon, she crafts paintings that feel like echoes of a theatrical performance, where characters linger in a suspended moment, caught between societal expectations and personal truths. Her work is a stage, and every canvas is a scene unfolding. Darina’s journey began in a traditional family, where expectations were clear—but her fascination with the surreal led her beyond the familiar. She started art school at six, mastering techniques that shaped her unique visual language. While studying graphic design in Kyiv, Darina found her true voice in painting — a space where boundaries blurred and deeper narratives emerged. At 19, she moved to Lisbon, an experience that shaped her perspective as an outsider navigating an unfamiliar world. Her art became a reflection of identity, isolation, and the quiet weight of societal expectations. From Schönhausen Palace Museum in Berlin to New York’s 17frost Gallery, her work speaks to a universal struggle — the tension between conformity and self-expression. Whether in the dreamlike haze of New Dream World or the raw intimacy of My First Diary, Darina’s paintings invite viewers to step into a moment of self-reflection, where emotions take form and meaning unfolds. Darina doesn’t just paint figures — she paints questions. Her art asks: Who are we, beyond the expectations placed upon us? What do we reveal, and what do we conceal? Her world is one where the symbolic and the surreal merge, reflecting not just her own journey, but the collective search for meaning in a world full of invisible walls.