Maya Salamatova was born in Turkmenistan and studied there for four years at the School of Fine Arts. Since the end of 2016, she is living and working in Vienna, Austria.
Her primary medium includes acrylic and oil on canvas, as well as watercolour portraits. In her early works, she drew inspiration from the vibrant colours of nature, creating vivid, abstract compositions. Her use of chaotic brushstrokes, hazy lines, and blurred colours evokes the fleeting nature of human thought – forms that are often indefinite, fluid, and in constant flux. Within this abstract realm, the boundaries between coherence and fragmentation dissolve, inviting boundless imagination and open interpretation.
Salamatova’s current focus lies in portraiture and figurative depictions of the human form. Her portraits are infused with life and emotional intensity, reflecting the ever- changing nature of human existence. These works remind us that nothing is fixed or permanent. They explore the transience of relationships and of being itself, inviting contemplation on the fragility of identity and the effort to maintain a sense of self amid life’s constant movement.
Her artistic interest centers on the human inner world – our relationship with ourselves and with others, our place in society, and the interplay of confidence, doubt, uniqueness, and authenticity.
As she reflects: “Nature has given us a full spectrum of colours to express the depth of human emotions, moods, and thoughts – things words often cannot convey. Time passes, generations shift, trends come and go, and people change – but art endures. Every painting tells its own story, and no one can predict what that story will be for you.
I find joy in watching colours dissolve, flow, and transform into new shades and dimensions. They seem to come alive, breathing energy and vitality into a once-blank canvas. The painting becomes a living presence – sometimes questioning, sometimes smiling ironically, sometimes warmly, and sometimes hiding sorrow or anxiety behind its gaze.
For me, every painting is a magical journey into the unknown. Ideas and images swirl in my mind, but the final outcome is never certain. This sense of unpredictability is what makes the process so thrilling.”
Exhibitions:
2022 – The Gallery Steiner, Vienna. Group exhibition
2022 – WienArtig, Vienna. Group exhibition
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