Irina Ilina is a self-taught artist who was forced to leave Ukraine in 2022 due to Russia’s invasion. Together with her son and the family’s three cats, she found a new life in Sweden. During her escape, she managed to bring along her sketchbook, a few pencils and brushes – tools that later helped her process her experiences and find calm in her new surroundings.

In her first months in Sweden, Irina was met with an outpouring of kindness and support from people around the world. Packages with watercolours, paper, pencils, and encouraging postcards arrived from places such as Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore – gestures that meant a great deal to her.

Art has always been central to Irina’s life. It is her way of understanding, resting, and recovering. In Sweden, nature has become a profound source of inspiration – especially the stillness that defines the landscape. It is this stillness she seeks to capture in her work.

Irina primarily works in ink, graphite, and watercolour. Her style is simple and understated, marked by a quiet sensitivity. She often finds inspiration in what is easily overlooked – a blade of grass, a seed head, a branch caught by the light – inviting the viewer to pause for a moment.

Since arriving in Sweden, Irina has exhibited her work in several places, including Kristianstad, Sölvesborg, and Sliperiet Gylsboda. She expresses deep gratitude for the warm welcome she has received.

The works presented in this exhibition were created both in Ukraine and in Sweden. See the paintings in the Garden Café May 1 - September 30.