Olya Krasavina is a Russian-born Jewish visual artist whose artistic journey began during anatomy class sessions in 7th grade in Moscow and has led her to a number of different cities across the United States and Canada. While drawing bones and skulls, she found herself floating between spiritual and physical realms.  

After high school, Olya’s family immigrated as refugees to the US (Philadelphia), leaving friendships and knowledge about life and the world behind. A stranger in her new reality, she was forced to learn everything all over again. After studying at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a fashion graphic designer, finally experiencing a sense of belonging. 

During a short trip to the Dominican Republic, she met her Canadian husband and moved to Montreal, a neutral territory for both.

Quitting her graphic design career in 2015, Olya became a visual artist finding recognition in the Montreal art scene. Having showcased her work locally, she has also started hosting painting parties and teaching watercolor workshops. However, her dream life was challenged after becoming a mother, which resulted in feeling isolated, exhausted and depressed. 

During the pandemic,after ten years of living in Montreal, the family decided to move to Kelowna, which brought back identity struggles, having to restart everything from scratch and build connections. Realizing that being an outsider and the feeling of isolation was always one of the central themes in her work, she started developing her motherhood series as she rented her studio space in Lake Country Art Gallery and embarked on daily painting practice. Since becoming a mother, Olya also became a yogi, and she finally understood the meditative qualities of her drawing practice – finding art in yoga, yoga in art.

Through her art, whether in urban landscapes or her series on motherhood, she further attempts to explore and maintain her identity regardless of her life experiences. 

Olya is an artist, teacher, photographer and also an entrepreneur. She wears many hats to keep her career as an independent artist afloat and, above all, support her passion for art.