An interview with: Daria Hlazatova
- Brandon Pestano
- Jul 29
- 4 min read
Enter the spell binding world of Ukrainian illustrator @dariahlazatova
"Daria Hlazatova is a Ukrainian artist and illustrator currently based in London, UK. Known for her detailed pen drawings, heavily studded with eyes, which is an allusion to her last name's meaning, Daria's work is inspired by music, nature and nonsense and motivated by life's challenges and innate enthusiasm. Daria's work has appeared on numerous book and album covers as well as in a silent film." - moonlightartscollective.com
Read on below for the full interview...
Could you tell us about your connections to Slavic folk art and what this history represents to you?
I was born in Ukraine and grew up surrounded by local arts and crafts. I love Petrykivka decorative art, as well as traditional embroidery that you can see on one of Ukraine’s symbols: vyshyvanka (an embroidered shirt, often passed on from one generation to another). I’ve always been fascinated by pysanka (a painted Easter egg). I had many books on pysanka craft and a collection of traditionally painted eggs as a child. However, what mostly shaped my vision is my city, Chernivtsi, as well as the woods, hills and mountains around it. My home in Ukraine is not far from the Carpathians. There are many folk legends about this part of our country and it is steeped in magic and folklore.
I have always had a keen interest in plants and trees, their healing properties. There are many generational herbalists in this region, you can go to any market and buy herbs for any ailment. Deep in the mountains you can find healers and magicians, who give advice, read fortune, make a potion or even put a spell or a curse. I find it fascinating. There is a well-known film by a cult Ukrainian-Armenian director Sergei Parajanov called “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” that delves into the magic of Carpathians.
How are you feeling so far in 2025? Are there any ideas that have been captivating or inspiring you as of late?
To be honest, I’m feeling concerned and disappointed. The ideas that are keeping me sane are those of resistance and constant learning about the world. Courage is another big thing, not just in life but also in art; it eliminates regret. Life for me is about trying and failing until you succeed and if you don’t, you know you tried, you moved and you lived. There’s a lot to take in.
I think knowing yourself, your desires and dreams, combined with knowing the needs of the world, committing to your mission – it all helps focus and keep integrity in these tumultuous times, where the line between what’s mad and what’s normal is becoming more blurred.
How would you describe the internal emotions that arise when creating your artworks and is there a particular driving motivation behind the conceptual process and your inspirations?
I think it’s the other way around for me: work is often the way to ground emotions, help them resurface in a visual form. Feeling comes first and then follows the artwork. My motto (loosely inspired by a Beckett quote) is “Draw first, think later.” Motivation comes from just moving forward. Love movement, can’t stop!
My process is very spontaneous and, often, when I create my personal work (as opposed to commissions) I don’t have a plan. I just set out to draw to music, sometimes moving in rhythm, in a sort of transcendental state, then “wake up”. I like to let my unconscious mind do quite a lot of work, and sometimes I get so hooked on a particular song I’m listening to while drawing, that its rhythm may show up in patterns and shapes.
What do you love the most about creating art and what lights the flame of passion inside of you?
I like the process of getting an idea and then bringing it to life. There’s magic in the way we make things happen. It’s an organic process that brings me joy and hope.
Are there any particular films, musicians or moments in life which come to mind that you feel had an impact on changing the way you look at the world and played a role in sculpting who you are and the art you create?
I think everything that has happened to me has definitely played a part one way or another in what I make and how I make it. From being born a month before Chornobyl disaster to the current war that Russia’s waging against my home. The major historical events I’ve lived through probably have played a bigger part in shaping my character and worldview than art has.
But art has always been a life buoy. I do draw a lot of inspiration from nature, people and places that surround me, from overcoming challenges (which by now has got a bit exhausting, but hey!). Culture-wise, the “life-changing” or rather “life-improving” moments were seeing 2001 A Space Odyssey for the first time, seeing Bowie play live, seeing my first van Gogh painting, and that moment in “True Stories” where David Byrne says “What time is it? No time to look back!”.
Kate Bush has been a great inspiration, as well as Radiohead, David Lynch, Medieval chants, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Hitchcock, Miles Davis, Fellini, Guy Maddin, Nino Rota, Slowdive, Massive Attack, Mike Patton, Tori Amos, Pixies...I am of course missing someone, but these are the ones that came first to mind!
Have Psychedelics informed your creative process in any way in relation to a specific painting or conceptual shift in perspective?
I have never tried psychedelics, although my work is very often called “psychedelic”. My mind-bending substances of choice are music, natural scents and the feeling of freedom.
What does the word 'spirituality' mean to you?
That’s a big question! I think maybe it starts with defining a spirit. And I believe there is a spirit in everything that’s made with love and enthusiasm, but who knows what it is exactly? I guess it’s about recognizing the unity of things, and recognising yourself as part of everything; that's how care, compassion and understanding are maintained. Spirituality for me is about awareness, integrity and thoughtful, loving action.
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Discover more of Daria Hlazatova's work via her:
- Astral Magazine
