"Sasha Q: Embracing Artistic Resilience & Exploring Boundaries of Transcendental Art"

Sasha Q, born Oleksandra Stepanenko in Kyiv, Ukraine, is a resilient and dynamic artist currently based in Toronto, Canada. With a background in fine arts and mural projects, Stepanenko's journey has been marked by challenges and triumphs, particularly in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Forced to flee her homeland, Stepanenko arrived in Canada in June 2022, leaving behind her friends, family, and the majority of her artwork. Despite this upheaval, she refused to let adversity define her. In preparation for her first Canadian show, she embarked on a remarkable journey, painting 20 pieces in just one month. This breakneck pace was unfamiliar territory for Stepanenko, but it was a testament to her unwavering determination and passion for her craft.

Starting from scratch in a new country presented its own set of challenges for Stepanenko. The lack of her previous artwork in Canada meant she had to create an entirely new body of work for exhibitions and showcases. However, this process of rebuilding has also been an opportunity for growth and exploration. Stepanenko found joy in the immediacy of creating smaller-scale pieces, relishing the experience of starting and finishing a painting in the same day.

Stepanenko's current series, is a testament to her fascination with retrofuturism and science fiction. Drawing inspiration from science magazines of the 1980s and '90s, both Soviet and North American, she creates surreal landscapes and distorted figures that transport viewers to otherworldly realms. Despite the cold, stark aesthetic of her work, Stepanenko finds solace in revisiting an era before the ubiquity of digital technology, tapping into a sense of nostalgia for a time that has passed.

Art has always been a source of solace and therapy for Stepanenko, serving as a means of escapism during tumultuous times. Born into a world of constant transformation, from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Stepanenko's art reflects the intersection of different eras and the resilience of the human spirit. Sasha Q's artistic journey is a testament to the power of resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. Through her unwavering determination and passion for her craft, she has not only overcome challenges but has also forged a new path for herself in a foreign land. With her evocative artwork and indomitable spirit, Stepanenko continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.