Artist Glafira Kotova shares why she loves bold colours, who she creates for, and what she’s planning to present next

Glafira Kotova • 15 May 2025

What theme do you feel runs like a red thread through all of your work?



It’s hard to single out just one, but at the core is definitely my desire to show the world in all its forms — as I see it. Through light, through movement, through rhythm. I want to express what matters to me at a given moment, my constant fascination with people, nature, and the city I live in. Sometimes circumstances push me to reflect philosophically. That’s when more unexpected pieces emerge, even for me. This year I’ve been focused on nature — painting the subjects I love most: animals and the natural world.


So, would you say that a deep love of life is your driving force?



Yes, I really believe people should strive for constant growth — and for that, you need a positive direction. Of course, it’s not possible to always be in high spirits, but keeping your thoughts on an optimistic track helps move forward.


Inspiration fuels the creative process, but success also requires discipline and hard work. Do you work in bursts or to a schedule, even when the muse is silent?



I just start painting, thinking, working. Inspiration comes during the process — and my muse is always there. Sometimes quiet, but always present. I’m a very hard-working person. I don’t need much sleep, and art gives me energy. Exhibiting and creating recharge me, like I’ve added more hours to the day. Artists, like musicians, need daily practice — like vocal warm-ups for singers. When inspiration and the right emotional mood align, the result is something truly special, and the viewer can feel that surge in the work.
At art school, we were taught that after finishing a major piece, you should grab a small canvas and do a quick sketch. The difference between the two is striking — the first is calculated, the second pure emotion.


Your colour palette is full of life — that’s immediately noticeable.



I do love vibrant colours. I’ve tried working in more muted, monochrome tones, but they don’t give me the same thrill once finished — they don’t stir strong emotions. That’s why I’m not fond of watercolour. It feels too subdued, lacking in energy. I want an explosion of colour and emotion. A painting should make you want to hang it on your wall — to bring joy and positive energy into the space.
I create for people who are drawn to beauty. It’s important to me that my art feels relatable, something people connect with — not just a future investment in a promising artist, but something personal. Maybe that’s how my inner rebellious streak comes out in my work. Sometimes I’ll start a loose, expressive underpainting and love it so much it feels like a shame to tidy it up.


You’ve taken part in numerous exhibitions in the UK, including solo shows. What are your goals as an artist moving forward?


I’d like to exhibit more often not only in the UK but also across Europe and the US — ideally joining smaller themed exhibitions every six months, and holding solo shows every couple of years. I’m also planning to launch my own art project where fellow artists and I will create themed works across various media and styles, and host large-scale collaborative events. I love engaging with people and inviting them into the creative process.


So you're hoping to take on the role of curator? To organise and shape the project yourself?



Exactly — to develop the theme, write the concept, and produce a catalogue. It could include small sculptures, mosaics — we could bring in artists from different disciplines through open calls. And it would be amazing to take the project on tour around the country!

Hollow Mountain

by Ziyi Huang • 30 September 2025
Ziyi Huang is a Chinese oil painting artist. His recent works are mainly landscapes inspired by his travels. He received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from China Academy of Art, where he is now studying for a Doctoral degree. He participated in an artist residency at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France from 2018-2019, and studied at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, USA as an international exchange student in 2024. His paintings have been exhibited in China, Japan, France, UK, Canada, Italy and Latvia, and he has held solo exhibitions in Hangzhou and Xiamen, China. He is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), International Council of Visual Arts (ICVA), 90' Creative Art Society, Zhejiang Artists Association and Zhejiang Association of Oil Painters. 

Daniel Agra

by Daniel Agra • 7 September 2025
Daniel Agra is Spanish artist of abstract and fine art photography. In the artistic field his work is defined as subjective, experimental and conceptual expressionist visual poetry, with a profound imaginative capacity and endowed with strong intuition. Defined by a resounding individual and experimental personal mark that allows him to mentally project a great deal of his compositions with a language and style full of symbolism. The defined perception and emotional depth of his work should be highlighted reflecting his interest in the subconscious, abandoned methods, dialogues and conventional and traditional photographic narratives which transcend their state to be symbolised in a deep analysis, to be recreated into a poetic frontier between the material and the spiritual, between man and the environments he inhabits, distinctive elements that emphasise the communicative character in his allegorical symbology and relative to the inner world, raising it to levels of evocative spirituality in transcendental and vindictive themes, on the existential importance of the individual in his creative freedom, a personal form of contemporary expression that does not bow to the established norms, an archetype through a vocabulary with meticulously selected images and iconographies. Over time, his works have achieved wide appreciation, recognition and international dissemination. The more than 50 awards and international honour mentions of photography that he has achieved during his career should be emphasised, he has shown his work and participated in exhibitions across various countries, as well as published in assorted media and international art guides. His work can be found in national and international museums, foundations and private art and photography collections. 

Mary Joy Manuel

by Tension & Release: A Spontaneous Series Born from Stillness • 10 August 2025
This ten-piece body of work, created on fine art paper (21 x 14.5 cm), explores the emotional and societal tensions that shape our collective experience. Using acrylics, graphite, and charcoal pencils, each painting captures dynamic movement through vibrant palettes—juxtaposing warm and cool tones to evoke contrast and conflict. Black graphite and charcoal lines cut through the compositions like fractures, symbolizing resistance, boundaries, and the desire to break free from imposed limitations. The negative space, softly blended with graphite, adds depth and quiet intensity, while ghost markings—my signature underpainting technique—linger beneath the surface, hinting at unseen histories and layered emotions. These subtle traces speak to the persistence of memory and identity, even when obscured.

Sahar Hasan: Artist and Curator

by Sahar Hasan • 25 July 2025
Sahar Hasan is a artist and curator whose work brings hidden emotions and overlooked stories into view. Her practice moves between painting, mixed media, and curation, always tracing the quiet spaces where memory, identity, and heritage meet.

Victoria Moses: Grand Era

by Victoria Moses • 24 July 2025
Victoria Moses: Grand Era  Victoria Moses, born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1990, is a student at the Art Academy Hamburg, where she engages with diverse artistic media, including painting, sculpture, and digital art. Her work is characterized by a profound exploration of perception and identity search, focusing on the relationships individuals establish within society. Through her use of both vivid, figurative oil paintings and monochromatic charcoal drawings, she examines how people integrate or distance themselves in various social contexts, adopting different roles that shape their self-expression and interactions. Her latest series, Grand Era, is deeply influenced by her experience working on an ocean liner - an enduring symbol of intercontinental connection as it was in the early 20th century. Within this series, Moses portrays individuals navigating multiple societal roles, shifting fluidly between personal and professional identities. A single person may simultaneously function as a professional, a family member, a friend, and a community participant, with each role reflecting distinct expectations and responsibilities dictated by their environment. Through these themes, Moses explores the complexities of human adaptability and the intricate balance required to meet the demands of social existence. Her art contributes to broader discussions on identity, social roles, and the evolving nature of interpersonal relationships.

Ashwani Verma, Busking Piccadilly Circus

by Grant Milne • 24 July 2025
Critics Review: The artist's exceptional talent is evident in their masterful control of watercolour, a medium notorious for its difficulty. The painting demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of light and atmosphere, using the medium's transparency to create a luminous, hazy glow over Piccadilly Circus. This is expertly contrasted with the sharp, dramatic shadows, showcasing a remarkable ability to create depth and a sense of time. The seemingly effortless washes of colour for the background and the energetic brushstrokes for the performers perfectly balance delicate subtlety with bold expression, a clear sign of a highly skilled watercolorist. Furthermore, the artist excels at capturing the emotion and energy of the scene, not just its physical form. The dynamic poses and loose, impressionistic style of the musicians suggest movement and rhythm, as if the music is about to pour from the frame. The artist has a rare gift for distilling the essence of an urban scene—its constant motion and the unexpected joy of a street performance—and conveying it with a powerful sense of atmosphere and narrative. This ability to imbue a painting with such a strong sensory experience is a true testament to their talent. Critics - Grant Milne - Founder of Artist Talk Magazine

LAURENTIU STROE

by EMOTION IN EVERY LAYER • 4 July 2025
Laurențiu STROE is a Romanian painter known for his raw, expressive style and textured surfaces. His artwork stands out through thick layers of paint, powerful brushstrokes and pallette knives, and a strong emotional presence. Using the impasto technique, STROE applies paint so heavily that it creates a sculptural texture, adding depth and movement to the canvas.

Painting from Within: Exploring Fluid Forms and Unseen Emotions

by Mahfam Barzegarpour • 5 June 2025
I am a Birmingham-based artist whose work explores spiritual and emotional landscapes through fluid forms and layered textures. Through my paintings, I seek to express feelings and inner states that words cannot easily convey. I developed my practice through studying Fine Art, where I began to explore the interplay of texture, movement, and the sense of presence in painting. 

Angelo Asaro: Surreal Reflections of Human Complexity

by Angelo Asaro: • 4 June 2025
Angelo Asaro is an Italian artist based in London. His journey bridges engineering and art: after earning a Master’s degree in Engineering and building a successful career as a Product Manager, he eventually followed his true calling — art. This transition allowed him to combine analytical precision with deep creative expression. Angelo’s work fuses surrealism and symbolism with strong conceptual depth, drawing inspiration from literature, philosophy, and psychology. His art has been exhibited internationally in galleries, art fairs, and virtual showcases, and has appeared in publications such as British Vogue, Vanity Fair, and leading art blogs. In 2024, he was a finalist in the ArtGemini Prize and the Zari Art Prize, both celebrating exceptional contemporary talent. He was also selected for the XV Florence Biennale and the London Art Biennale 2025, two of the most respected international exhibitions of contemporary art. Tell us about yourself. How have your roots and experiences shaped your artistic vision? My work is deeply rooted in the exploration of the human condition — the emotional, social, and philosophical threads that define who we are. My visual language combines symbolism, surrealism, and contemporary narratives, all rendered with meticulous attention to detail. My creative vision has been shaped by a rich tapestry of influences — literature, philosophy, artistic movements, and a deep investigation of psychological and existential themes. Growing up in Sicily — a land of powerful contrasts, layered histories, and a profound cultural legacy — played a fundamental role in my artistic development. The island’s literary and cultural heritage often centred on themes like identity, solitude, and the fight against social injustice, has greatly influenced the emotional and conceptual core of my work. This background fuels my desire to create art that resonates on both personal and universal levels — inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences and the intricate web of connections that shape our world. How would you define your artistic style, and what themes are central to your work? My style is a hybrid of surrealism, symbolism, and elements of pop art. I often use vivid colours, precise detail, and unexpected juxtapositions to blur the boundaries between reality and imagination. The result is a visual language that’s both accessible and layered — inviting viewers to look closer, then think deeper. At the heart of my work are recurring themes: the search for identity, the fragility of existence, and the tension between individuality and conformity. 

ERNESTO ARTIG

by ERNESTO ARTIG • 28 May 2025
Breaking the Frame: Art, Emotion, and Connection By Ernesto Artig As an abstract artist, I work from the inside out. My process is intuitive, raw, and rooted in emotional truth. Each painting begins as a conversation—between parts of myself, between tension and release, between what’s visible and what’s felt. I use mixed media to layer meaning and texture, letting each piece evolve organically until it speaks with its own voice. But for me, the art experience shouldn’t stop at the canvas. That’s why I founded the Connecting Conditional Art Movement (CCAM). What is the Connecting Conditional Art Movement (CCAM)? CCAM is a response to how disconnected the art world—and often the world itself—can feel. At its core, it’s about creating emotional bridges between people through the artwork they collect. Each piece within CCAM exists in dialogue with a counterpart. When a collector acquires one of these works, they agree to share their contact details with the buyer of its companion piece. In doing so, they become part of a living network—a community connected not just by ownership, but by shared resonance. This movement invites us to look at art not as a commodity, but as a conduit. A spark. A starting point for something more human. Below are four examples of paintings that are part of the CCAM. Each one holds its own emotional and visual language, but also reaches outward—toward its counterpart, and toward you.  If you’re an artist who feels aligned with the ethos of the Connecting Conditional Art Movement and would like to contribute your own paired works, I invite you to get in touch. You can reach me at hello@ernestoartig.com .