My paintings have taken on brighter, softer tones - as a reminder that life goes on.

What's your connection to horses?

‍My love for horses was something I was born with, it feels woven into my soul. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by their beauty and the strength and power that radiates from them.

Yulia’s characteristic technique is oil painting on lustrous velvet. The works “Melody of Light,” “Tenderness,” and “Fata Morgana” were created using this method.

Why the horse topic in your art?

‍‍To me, the horse is poetry in motion, the embodiment of harmony and freedom. There is warmth, nobility, and unique individuality in their eyes, which is what makes them irresistible as artistic subjects and why they are the main characters of my work.

What's your art form?‍

I work across various media. I paint in oil on canvas, and I also create graphic works using pastel on cardboard. Recently, I have focused on my latest series, Fata Morgana, executed in oil paints on natural velvet stretched over a subframe.

"I am with you". Painting by Yulia Lychagina, also oil on velvet, 50 × 60 cm.

‍How has war changed your work?

‍The war has changed my worldview fundamentally. It forced me to seek out light even in the deepest darkness. Since then, I strive to bring more light and goodness into the space around me. My paintings have taken on brighter, softer tones - as a reminder that life goes on, and beauty always conquers darkness. This shift can be clearly seen in my recent works.