Valentina Pushkareva

Portrait of Valentina Pushkareva

My name is Valentina. I am a batik artist from Russia, currently living in Germany.

It was love at first sight when I discovered batik. During my university studies, one of my teachers introduced me to this technique, and I immediately knew that I wanted to work with it. After completing my graduation project, I took a long break from art that lasted almost eight years. But after the birth of my children, creativity gradually returned to my life and eventually became its central part once again.

For me, batik is both magic and a lesson. I still love watching dye flow across the fabric, creating something unexpected and alive. At the same time, this technique requires focus, patience, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions. Perhaps that is exactly why I am so drawn to it. As a very emotional and sometimes spontaneous person, I find in batik a balance between freedom and structure.

Today, my work explores two main themes. The first is nature. It helps me restore my energy, reconnect with myself, and find a sense of grounding. The second is the journey of becoming — the process through which we grow, change, and discover who we are. I have always been fascinated by psychology, and in recent years I have felt an increasing desire to explore existential questions through my art. I am interested in themes of identity, transformation, vulnerability, fear, choice, and the search for meaning. Through my work, I hope to create space for reflection and genuine connection.

I am a mother of two children, and from time to time I lead workshops. I also see it as part of my mission to promote batik and share its possibilities with a wider audience. I would love for more people to discover batik not only as a craft technique, but as a powerful contemporary art form with endless expressive potential.

I feel incredibly fortunate to do what I love and to share that feeling through my work!