Mariia Zhurykova is a contemporary figurative artist based in Spain whose work approaches the human body as a field of tension between form, perception, and emotional presence. Rooted in the observation of the human figure — its diversity, movement, and inherent beauty — her paintings focus on the plasticity of the body and its expressive potential.

Working between figurative and abstract painting, Zhurykova develops a visual language where identity is not defined by facial detail but by gesture, posture, and rhythm. Faces are often reduced or absent, shifting attention toward the body as a universal structure of human experience. This positions her work within contemporary figurative painting.

Her main series — People, Body Line, Freedom of Beauty, and Mediterranean Garden — explore different dimensions of human presence.

In figurative studies of human presence, the figure reflects psychological states and relationships. Body Line emphasizes contour, movement, and the physical intelligence of the body, while Freedom of Beauty redefines contemporary femininity. The Mediterranean Garden series introduces light, nature, and atmosphere.

Since 2020, her practice has evolved toward a more conceptual direction through projects such as Conexión, where she investigates the relationship between individuals and their material and immaterial worlds. Influenced by experiences of war and displacement, her paintings balance fragility and resilience.

Working from her studio in Spain, Mariia Zhurykova develops a practice where body, space, and Mediterranean atmosphere remain in constant dialogue.