Iuliia Rybchynska, known professionally as Julia iSABEL, is a Ukrainian-American contemporary artist, designer, and activist whose work bridges existentialism with political and social commentary and environmental advocacy. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine and based in Fairfield, Connecticut, she earned her Summa Cum Laude BA in Art and Design from Sacred Heart University, where she tapped into the intersection of movement, material, and meaning through art.
Through her large-scale kinetic enamel paintings on raw canvas and conceptual works, Julia examines themes of evolution, freedom, unity, and the complexities of the human condition. Her body of work critiques patriarchal capitalism, societal manipulation, and consumer culture, reclaiming intuition, awareness, and personal choice as acts of resistance. With her work, she invites viewers into a profound dialogue about beauty, struggle, and transformation. Through dynamic compositions, bold material choices, and kinetic techniques, Julia addresses existential questions while advocating for conscious living and societal change.
Her work has been exhibited internationally at prominent institutions and fairs, including the Venice Biennale, Grand Egyptian Museum, LA Art Show, Art Miami, and Yale University. With her pieces housed in public and private collections across the United States and Europe, she is a rising voice in the ultra-contemporary art scene. In 2022, Julia was crowned Ms. Connecticut, expanding her platform to advocate for sustainability, women’s empowerment, and social justice on a broader stage.
Her work has been featured in media outlets such as Forbes, The Art Newspaper, and Voice of America, highlighting her innovative approach to merging activism with contemporary art. Julia has also collaborated with nonprofits, environmental initiatives, and educational programs to expand the reach of her art beyond the gallery space.
Statement
My art is an existential exploration of a hero's journey through my experience as a woman, mother, and creator. Inspired by Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” I see our world as a cave shaped by manipulative forces, where media and societal norms cast shadows and illusions to divide and control. My work delves into these shadows, highlighting the power of individual choice and responsibility and understanding that transforming oneself shapes the collective.
By reaching antifragility through liminality, I emphasize embracing uncertainty and transition. I urge viewers to confront their fears and limitations of the ‘known devil’ as growth opportunities, resonating with the collective pursuit of resilience and adaptability.
My paintings, on large, raw canvases with vivid colors, use simplified enamel forms to represent ideological constraints and enamel dripping to symbolize liberation, addressing big universal ideas and global challenges. Faceless shadow projections enhance the narrative, embodying the hero's journey and inviting viewers to embrace their shadow selves on the path of self-discovery.
I portray the beauty and abundance of the physical world and the joy and importance of the human experience, underlining that the roots of all problems stem from our choices as Earth's inhabitants. Through my art, I lead personal and societal evolution and foster unity within humanity and nature for present and future generations.