Anna Yakusheva

Year of birth: 1991
Where do you live: I am from Ukraine, but based in UK
Describe your art in three words: Transformative, reinterpreting, emotional.
Website | Instagram

Can you share how your journey as an artist began and how it evolved over the years?

I was 4 years old, and I remember sitting under the table, curiously watching the red mark from my mother’s new lipstick on the wall. In those times, it was still a rarity, and my father had brought it for my mum from abroad. But I wasn’t interested in using it as a lip — at that moment it became as means of self-expression. This vivid childhood memory is the first expression of my creativity and draw unusual materials. At that moment some unusual condition began to dawn on me, but I was only able to fully understand and name its years later, after going through a journey of self-acceptance.

From the age of 15, I learnt that it is not enough to paint as you feel, needed knowledge and an academic foundation. I was accepted to the local art school and started to study academic drawing, sculpture, and developed a particular interest in oil painting. I painted local landscapes, sold my works at local fairs, and gave them to friends. This was my first experience being recognized as an artist, and it inspired me.

When it came time to choose a profession after finishing school, the only creative field available in our city was interior design. It was in university that I spent the most beautiful five years immersing myself in the world of art and experimenting with materials. During that time, I began studying philosophy, art history, and became deeply studied of the Bauhaus school. I became interested in studying the Renaissance and greatest geniuses those time, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. I spent a lot of time drawing copies of their works, liked observing people and sketching quickly, reading everything that sparked my deep interest.

After finishing my studies, I continued my creative journey as interior designer.

How did the transition from interior design to art affect your creative process and artistic style?

Working as an interior designer, I developed excellent skills in communication, business management, teamwork, flexibility, and the ability to see the bigger picture in any creative process. And these skills have been a great base in my future endeavours as an artist.

I wasn’t developing as an artist at the time, but I did create a few paintings specifically for my projects. This was an attempt to explore interior abstraction. However, I didn’t pursue this creative experiment further, as I didn’t feel it was truly my style. I was looking for something more, but due to my busy schedule, I couldn’t quite capture that feeling and express it on paper.

The big change in my life came in 2016 when fate challenged me to choose between successful self-actualization or starting a family. The choice for me was not an easy one. But after leaving behind a promising future as a designer, I moved to England and, shortly after, became a mother for the first time. During this period, my inner world was profoundly shaken. I encountered social and cultural differences in mentalities, and I had to find new ways of creative development for myself. The responsibility of caring for a young child led me to explore my inner world through esoteric and spiritual knowledge. I began searching for myself.
It was from that moment that my journey as an artist truly began.

Anna Yakusheva | Choice | 2023

Your works explore themes like emotional intelligence, psychology, and esotericism. How do you incorporate these ideas into your art?

We live in a time when occult sciences and esoteric rituals can be openly explored without the fear of being burned at the stake, that to understand the essence of our existence. To comprehend what we can build on in life. I consider this knowledge one of the most wonderful tools for self-discovery and interacting with the world. And as an artist, I pass on all the experience I’ve gained through my work.
At the same time, I hold science in high regard. Everything in the Universe has the right to exist without division. And, of course, much of the “esoteric” becomes so much clearer when you also receive explanations of “how it works” from a scientific perspective. Therefore, in my work, I employ methods and techniques that are based on both scientific approaches and research.

Our life is a reflection of the images we hold in our consciousness. Therefore, it is symbols that shape reality. And those symbols and signs that surround us, they are the ones that translate into our lives. It is they that programme us for effective actions in the direction of our desires.

In my new series of works, “Quantum Collage,” I explore the manifestation of desires. These are individual pieces that delve deeply into a well-researched topic and are based on knowledge from quantum psychology, astrology, human design, and numerology. According to quantum theory, thoughts, like molecules, have physical properties — they materialize and attract like energy. Thus, this series of personalized works infuses the owner with qualities that are embedded specifically in them and for them.
The works are based on the principle of the law of attraction, in which the manifestation of desires occurs, transforming and helping them materialize in the real world. The entire piece serves as a personal creative passport. And even if the owner is not yet familiar with their true self, through my collage, they can learn a great deal about who they are.

The works in this series are not just pieces of art; they are transformative pieces that will guide one toward self-discovery, contributing to external changes as well.

You mention that your artwork is meditative, involving direct contact with your Higher Self. Could you elaborate on this process and how it influences your pieces?

I cannot say that it is the influence of my Higher Self on my work; rather, it is the work of my Higher Self itself. My Higher Self is not something separate from me. It is widely known that our bodies are merely instruments for manifesting the creations of our unconscious mind.

Therefore, the entire process of creating a piece of art for me is truly like a meditation, in which I immerse myself completely and see the images that then appear on paper. Some works, or parts of a work, I may see in a dream, and upon waking, I immediately try to draw what I’ve seen in my sketchbook. Afterward, I analyse what I saw and transform it into the artwork. Sometimes, a word I hear, a book I read, a detail I saw in nature, or reflections on life’s themes can spark an idea for a future painting. At times, the process becomes so captivating that I simply disconnect from any logical thoughts and just draw.

I have accepted the fact that my works may not be created quickly. It can take a month, two, or sometimes even longer. I may work on several work at once, and it’s a special pleasure for me when I can see several completed works at the same time.

There are times when I step away from brushes, paints, and magazines, from any interaction with the outside world, and retreat into solitude, focusing on my daily family routine. During this time, I simply observe the external world and check my inner compass.

Anna Yakusheva | Infinity

How do you select the words and magazine clippings that you incorporate into your watercolour and collage works? What role do these elements play in the transformation you aim to inspire in the viewer?

I am deeply moved by the story of Santiago from Paulo Coelho’s book. He dreamed of finding treasure, but his journey was full of trials. It was the symbols and signs that guided him to his true purpose. When he met the old man, the latter said: “When you really want something, the entire Universe conspires to help you achieve it.” Santiago recognized and trusted all the signs of fate: the eagle, the wind, the desert.

My works are a combination of two techniques—watercolour and collage. Watercolour became an association for me with the lightness and fluidity of life. In rethinking the role of glossy magazines as an artifact of our time, I complement my works with cuttings from them, which serve as the very symbols and signs for the viewer. I use recognizable images as alternative meanings for each observer, allowing them to project their own experiences and outline their personal, unique life path. With this, I aim to evoke hidden emotions within the viewer, awaken their consciousness to a dialogue with themselves, and show that each of us is unique and a Great Creator, not only of our own life but of this World as a whole.

Each of my works, like each person and their fate, can be viewed as long as the retina of the eye, which never repeats. I show how multifaceted, light, and free our reality can be if we learn to trust life and listen to the voice of our soul.

Anna Yakusheva | And you are you

Metamodernism is a key theme in your work. How do you define this artistic movement, and how does it resonate with your personal journey toward inner freedom?

Metamodernism, for me, is a unique space for exploring inner freedom, as it combines elements of sincerity and irony, doubt and faith, while reflecting the paradoxes of the contemporary world. Unlike postmodernism, which often focused on dismantling traditions, metamodernism opens up space for the search for meaning and personal truth in a world of uncertainty.

This resonates deeply with my own journey towards inner freedom. In my creative work, I strive to embrace these contrasts, allowing myself to be both vulnerable and strong, doubtful and confident. I remain open to change and to a process where there is no final goal, only movement and growth. This understanding enables me to express my emotions and experiences, accepting inner contradictions and finding strength in them for self-expression. It allows me to reveal my true nature without fear of my own conflicts. I give myself the freedom to express not only my struggle with external limitations but also my search for inner harmony, accepting uncertainty and evolving alongside the world around me.

Anna Yakusheva | Ego | 2024

What advice would you give to other artists who are exploring their own inner worlds through art?

Art is a brief portal to the self. A work of art is something that concentrates the unconscious around it. To show one’s vulnerability and fragility without fear of rejection or disapproval, to be open in one’s art—this is the key success of the new era. I consider this to be the courage and strength of a person who has remembered their true nature as a Creator. By exploring ourselves, transforming, and sharing our experiences through our work, we awaken the viewer to become closer to their own true creative nature.

When we explore our inner world, it is truly a process of deep revelations, sometimes painful, but it is these moments that give birth to powerful works. We should not limit ourselves by expectations or what others may think. Art is a personal expression, and it must be honest.

It is also important not to be afraid of experimentation and mistakes. Often, it is through mistakes that we make the most unexpected and valuable discoveries. Let each new step be part of the journey, not the final destination. It is essential to remember that the inner world is an ongoing process, and art will evolve alongside us.

Therefore, helping to reconnect with true creative energy and restore trust in the future is the task of creators in our time. Remember this!

Anna Yakusheva | The birth of a new consciousness | 2024