Maria Naidyonova
- May 15
- 3 min read
Maria Naidyonova is a Ukrainian-born artist based in Berlin who works with painting, drawing and animation. She trained in painting in Kiev and completed her studies at the Weissensee Academy of Art in Berlin. Her studio wall, floor to ceiling, is covered with sketches of people, the only subject she has ever had. She draws from life, and the sketches eventually become large canvases or whole series. Her work runs in four ongoing series, Friends & Lovers, Berliners, Rivals and Never-Ending Stories.
Q: First of all, tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into art?
A: I was born an artist and started drawing as soon as I had pencils in my hands.
Q: You've said that people are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for you. Has it always been people?
A: Yes—ever since I first saw a model posing, I was completely captivated. A person’s appearance can reveal so much! Both the face and the curves of the body remain an unsolved mystery that I long to unravel. Portraiture is a form of psychological observation. The human figure is also one of the most complex subjects to depict, which is precisely what makes it so compelling.
Q: Can you walk us through your process a bit? You mention starting with quick sketches from life. What happens after that?
A: Then I sit there, drinking coffee, looking at them, and thinking. Sometimes an idea for a composition comes to me instantly; other times, I need to let my mind wander. My studio wall, from floor to ceiling, is covered with sketches. I rearrange them, testing connections, discovering relationships, and gradually sensing what kind of story the blank canvas is asking to be told.
Q: You have these four series going—Friends & Lovers, Berliners, Rivals, Never-Ending Stories. What's the story behind those titles?
A: “Friends and Lovers” is a collective title for works that explore human relationships, focusing on the fragility and value of intimate, trusting moments. “Berliners” is inspired by everyday scenes I observe in the city—especially in the Kreuzberg and Neukölln neighborhoods, on the streets and in public transport.
“Rivals” is more metaphorical; I prefer to leave it open for each viewer's interpretation. “Never-Ending Stories” is a cycle of drawings on paper that brings together elements of all these themes, forming an ongoing narrative.
Q: You work in animation as well as painting and drawing. How did that start?
A: Drawing and painting were the foundations of my practice—I trained in these traditional techniques from the beginning.
At some point, while repeatedly sketching variations of a pose in my preparatory drawings, I noticed that when placed side by side, they created a sense of movement. That observation led me to experiment with animation and eventually to create my first video piece.
Q: What are you working on right now? Which of the four series is keeping you busiest at the moment?
A: At the moment, I’m continuing to develop the “Lovers” series. I also draw women frequently—it has always been a central theme in my work. I move between works on paper and large-format canvases. Sometimes I feel like dissolving figures into abstraction; at other times, I return to minimal, precise lines. It depends on the mood and the emotion I want to convey. In the end, all the works connect and become part of one continuous, evolving story.
