Maryna Futymska
"Flowers"
In this project, flowers are seen as a universal language of nature, fragile, changing and rich in symbolism. Through watercolour, artists express not only their visual beauty but also deeper states such as growth, fading, memory and renewal. The fluid nature of watercolour reflects the essence of flowers, their lightness, transparency and constant movement. Each work becomes a personal reflection on the relationship between humans and nature and on the importance of attentive observation. The online format enhances this experience by allowing a focused and intimate viewing of subtle colour and emotional expression beyond physical space. This exhibition is about perceiving nature through sensitivity and the language of watercolour.
Exhibition Artworks
About the creator
- Maryna Futymska is a Ukrainian architect and visual artist born on 25 July 1980, based in the United Arab Emirates. She holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Fine Arts and works across watercolour, acrylic, academic drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. Her practice runs in parallel with a professional architectural career that includes major projects in the UAE. She is a holder of the UAE Cultural Golden Visa.
Short Biography
Maryna Futymska grew up in Bucha, Ukraine, and went on to study at the National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, one of Ukraine's most respected art institutions, graduating in 2003 with a Master's qualification in Architecture and Fine Arts. She subsequently completed a History of Painting course and has continued her artistic development through specialised online programmes in academic portrait and figure drawing. After establishing herself as a practising architect, with completed projects including Raffles The Palm on Palm Jumeirah and Hyde Hotel on Business Bay in Dubai, she built a parallel career as a professional artist. Now based permanently in the UAE, she exhibits regularly across the region and internationally, teaches drawing and painting to adults and children, and volunteers with the Ukrainian diaspora community. She is a member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and the International Watercolor Society, and her work and expertise have been featured in UAE press publications.
Education
Maryna attended the Ukrainian National Gymnasium in Bucha from 1994 to 1996, where she studied humanities and visual art. She then completed a specialised course in academic drawing and painting at the National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture in Kyiv (1996 to 1997), followed by a full degree programme at the Faculty of Architecture at the same institution from 1997 to 2003, graduating with a Master's qualification in Architecture and Fine Arts. She subsequently completed a History of Painting course (2003 to 2004), an online Academic Portrait course through the Institute of Academic Drawing and Painting by Andrey Samarin (2021 to 2022), and a Human Figure course focused on anatomical sciences for artists (2022 to 2023).
Exhibitions
Maryna has participated in a wide range of solo and group exhibitions across the UAE, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, and France. Her solo exhibitions include 'Whisper of Watercolor' at Art of Living Mall, Dubai (September 2024), 'Sketching Marathon UAE' at Concept+, Dubai (June 2022), and 'Architectural Stories' in Kyiv. Recent group and international participations include Fabriano in Acquarello 2025 in Fabriano, Italy; the Aquarelle Pyreneenne watercolour festival in Céret, France (July 2025); TAF The Art Fest at Taj Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai (February 2025); 'Incredible' at N2N Gallery and Kansas Gallery, Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi (December 2024); 'Tribute to the UAE' at Pullman Hotel Dubai Creek (December 2024 to January 2025); Al Murabbaa Arts Festival at Ajman Museum (December 2024); World Art Dubai at Dubai World Trade Centre (May 2024); 'Color of Spring' in Calgary, Canada (March 2024); 'For the Love of Kuwait' at Tuher Club, Dubai (February 2024); Tela International Art Exhibition in Dubai (March 2024); 'Inter-Action' at The Warehouse Gallery, Dubai (November 2023); 'Floral Art' at Pullman Hotel JLT (October 2023); 'Cats in the City' and 'Kyiv, What Kind of City?' in All-Ukrainian exhibitions of graphics and watercolour in Kyiv (2022 and 2023); and 'Dancing with Water' and 'Because They Can't Speak for Themselves' in Dubai (2022). She has also participated in breast cancer awareness campaigns and events at the Museum of the Future and ME Dubai Hotel.
Awards
Maryna won first place in the 'Battle of Brushes' competition at Dubai World Trade Centre in November 2024, held during Paperworld Middle East. She has also received a special certificate from the Consul of Kuwait and an invitation to an official reception marking Kuwait's Independence Day, in recognition of her participation in cultural events.
Artistic Style
Watercolour is at the centre of Maryna's practice, and she regards it as the most demanding of her chosen mediums. Her work combines the precision of academic training with a sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and surface that reflects both her architectural background and her sustained engagement with the natural world. She also works in acrylic, academic drawing, and three-dimensional sculptural painting, bringing a structural clarity to compositions that are nonetheless expressive in character. Her architectural experience is visible in her attention to space and form, while her watercolours in particular carry a fluidity that sets them apart from her more constructed work.
Additional Information
Maryna has contributed to significant architectural projects in the UAE, including Raffles The Palm on Palm Jumeirah and Hyde Hotel on Business Bay. She teaches academic drawing and painting to adults and conducts workshops and masterclasses, including a watercolour workshop in Calgary, Canada (March 2024) and a sculpture workshop at Art4You Gallery in Dubai (October 2023). She volunteers with children from the Ukrainian diaspora in Dubai and has supported children affected by the war in Ukraine. She is a member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and the International Watercolor Society. Her art portfolio is available at maryna-art.com and her architectural portfolio at architotall.com.
Masterpieces by Maryna Futymska
