Alina Hrubets
My art is a reinterpretation of the Byzantine iconographic tradition through a personal visual language.
My artistic practice is deeply inspired by the icon — by its call to profound meanings, the process of seeking understanding in allegories and symbols, and how their significance is projected onto the contemporary world.Through my works, I aim not only to preserve and cultivate the artistic and cultural value of the icon, but also to affirm its relevance today.
My focus on sacred art stems from the core values of Christian morality, such as goodness, selfless love, sacrifice, and justice.A key leitmotif in my sacred painting is the concept of light — a light that expands the boundaries of consciousness, illuminates, and transforms.
I seek to achieve the effect of inner radiance within the figures, experimenting with color, texture, and tone. The resulting image draws the viewer in and invites interaction, echoing the light of Divine Glory that leaves its imprint — a seal. From that moment, it becomes a reference point.The ongoing challenges of full-scale war compel me to choose iconographic subjects whose central themes are the victory of good over evil and life over death.
This victory is possible through resistance and the sacrificial act of Christ — a sacrifice now mirrored in the actions of Ukrainian soldiers.After death comes the moment of Resurrection — a hope we, too, hold onto in the context of the current war.
My art strives to illuminate the darkness, offer new hope, and sustain faith in the possibility of rising from the ashes.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” — and perhaps that is why sacred art continues to serve as a source of strength across centuries, especially in times of hardship.In my future work, I aim to explore the context of war as a transformative force — one that reshapes the Ukrainian nation and the global world at large.
Alina Hrubets is a Ukrainian artist who lives and works in Lviv.
She was born on July 3, 1997, in the city of Lutsk. Her artistic journey began during her studies at the Lutsk Art School. She later received her higher professional education at the Lviv National Academy of Arts.
Currently, her artistic practice focuses on the exploration of sacred art.
Primarily, she creates icons and paintings on Christian themes. Her main references are the ancient Ukrainian iconographic tradition as well as the works of Ukrainian modernist artists who reinterpreted Byzantine stylization. These sources inspired the artist to continue the existence of the icon as both a spiritual and cultural value, offering it a contemporary interpretation.
Beyond the visual aspect, Alina emphasizes the semantic depth of the icon, and the fascinating process of interpreting symbols and allegories. The artist strives for contemporary Ukrainian sacred art to attract a broader audience, serving as a tool for conveying spiritual and human values.
In her practice, Alina applies techniques of the old masters, using a specially prepared wooden panel and creating her own levkas (traditional gesso). She is skilled in working with egg tempera, but currently prefers acrylics and experiments with mixed media.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she has remained in Ukraine. Her reflection on the war is evident in the color palette of her works, dominated by shades of black, grey, and red.
Alina has participated in numerous group exhibitions, charity auctions, and has been a resident of several international iconography plein airs. Her works are held in private collections in countries such as Germany, Poland, Italy, the United States, and Australia.
Her most significant recent project is the polychrome painting of the dome space of the wooden Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the Lemko village of Hladishiv, Poland.
For Alina, as a co-author of the project, it was her first independent monumental work — to organically complement the historical sanctuary from 1939 with innovative murals.
EDUCATION
2019-2021 Master’s degree, specialization in Sacred Art, the Lviv National Academy of Arts
2014-2018 Bachelor’s degree, specialization in Sacred Art, the Lviv National Academy of Arts
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 New icon, Ivan Honchar Museum, Kyiv, Ukraine
2024 Under Fire, A/NT gallery in Seattle, USA
2024 Levkas miniatures, Contemporary Art Center ‘‘White World’’, Kyiv, Ukraine
2023 Christmas exhibition, Iconart Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery, Lviv, Ukraine
2023 Third All-Ukrainian Levkas Biennial, Contemporary Art Center ‘‘White World’’, Kyiv, Ukraine
2023 ECCE HOMO, Easter exhibition, Iconart Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery, Lviv, Ukraine
2023 Ukrainische Ikonen, Collegium Orientale, Catholic University, Eichstätt, Germany
2022 Christmas exhibition, Iconart Contemporary Sacred Art Gallery, Lviv, Ukraine
2022 Christmas exhibition, Archeparchy of Philadelphia, USA
2022 ShcheMyt (ukr), Franko House, Lviv, Ukraine
2022 Icon exhibition created during 2011-2019 on the International Iconographic Workshop in the Integration center in Zamlynnia, Museum of the Volyn Icon, Lutsk, Ukraine
2021 The Word became flesh, icon exhibition from the XII International Iconographic Workshop in Novica, Warsaw Archdiocese Museum, Poland, Lviv National Museum, Ukraine
2020 Psalms, icon exhibition from the XI International Iconographic Workshop in Novica, Warsaw Archdiocese Museum, Poland, Lviv National Museum, Ukraine
2019 A time to be born, and a time to die, icon exhibition from the X International Iconographic Workshop in Novica, Warsaw Archdiocese Museum, Poland, Lviv National Museum, Ukraine
2019 VII Ecclesiastical Art Biennial, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
CHARITY AUCTIONS
2023 Icons save life, organized by charitable non-profit organization «Always Ukraine» together with
«Zavzhdy UA» and in partnership with the Iconart art gallery, Bayonne, USA
2023 Prophets of Victory, Normal Art Restaurant та BMP Community, Kyiv, Ukraine
2023 Icons save life, organized by charitable non-profit organization «Always Ukraine» together with
«Zavzhdy UA» and in partnership with the Iconart art gallery, Ukrainian House, Washington, USA
RESIDENCES
2019 The Word became flesh, XII International Iconographic Workshop, Novica, Poland
2019 Psalms, XI International Iconographic Workshop, Novica, Poland
2019 Liberation, XI International Iconographic and Sacred Art Workshop, Zamlynnia, Ukraine
2018 A time to be born, and a time to die, X International Iconographic Workshop, Novica, Poland
2018 Artistic Summer, International Art Workshop, DK Dorożkarnia, Warsaw, Poland
2018 Signs of the times, VIII International Iconographic and Sacred Art Workshop, Zamlynnia, Ukraine
2017 The Pentateuch in an icon, VII International Iconographic and Sacred Art Workshop, Zamlynnia, Ukraine