Mriya Gallery and Rukh Art Hub invite you to the VIP and media opening of Maria Kulikovska’s exhibition Once Leda Found an Egg — Blue Like a Hyacinth, marking her New York debut.
The exhibition explores systemic power, feminist resistance, and bodily autonomy, and includes the eighth installment of Kulikovska’s performance Lustration / Ablution, where she cleanses herself in a bathtub with soap sculptures, symbolizing the complex connection between trauma, conflict, and healing.
Date: Monday, February 24, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Mriya Gallery, 2025 Rukh Art Hub, New York City
A Timely Exploration of Resistance and Resilience
This exhibition is especially significant as it opens on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2025) and the anniversary of the Day of Resistance against the Occupation of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (February 26, 2025). These key moments in Ukrainian history provide a powerful backdrop for Kulikovska’s artistic exploration of trauma, exile, and the enduring spirit of resistance. Having been displaced twice — due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war — Kulikovska’s work reflects her personal experiences of displacement and resistance. Born in Kerch, Crimea, in 1988, Maria Kulikovska was forced to leave her home following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Exhibition Overview
Once Leda Found an Egg — Blue Like a Hyacinth intertwines Kulikovska’s personal history with universal themes. Drawing inspiration from ancient poetic traditions, especially the works of Sappho, the exhibition explores motherhood, bodily autonomy, and the strength needed to navigate both personal and collective crises. Kulikovska places her own body at the center of the narrative, using it as both a battleground and a symbol of resistance against patriarchal structures. At its core, the exhibition addresses Ukraine’s historical struggles while engaging with the broader global fight for women’s rights.
With the rise of Trump’s administration, which aims to limit bodily autonomy and suppress women’s rights, these themes have become even more pressing. The exhibition serves as a powerful statement on the urgent need to defend bodily autonomy and the rights of women everywhere.
Press Release
On February 22, 2025, Rukh Art Hub and Mriya Gallery are proud to present an exhibition by renowned Ukrainian artist and performer Maria Kulikovska. Titled Once Leda Found an Egg — Blue Like a Hyacinth, the show marks Kulikovska’s debut in New York, showcasing her powerful body of work that critiques the abuse of power, highlights feminist resistance alongside the enduring fight for freedom and democracy.
Maria Kulikovska is celebrated internationally for her bold feminist stance and critique of the systemic violence inflicted on women’s bodies. Her work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions, including the Francisco Carolinum Museum in Linz, Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Ludwig Museum in Budapest, and The Albertinum in Dresden.
Kulikovska’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in personal and national histories. Her work reflects the traumatic consequences of war, forced migration, and the ongoing struggle for self-expression and bodily autonomy. Born in Kerch, Crimea, Kulikovska was banned from her homeland following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Her political performances, which critique Russian aggression and the authoritarian regime, have placed her on Russia’s intelligence “blacklist,” subjecting her to surveillance and persecution. Despite these threats, she has continued to stage protest actions across Ukraine and Europe, amplifying her resistance to colonial and patriarchal structures.
Notable among her actions are Raft Crimea. A Displaced Parliament of Displaced and Act of Solidarity originated in Kyiv and have since been performed in Liverpool, Malmö, Vienna, and Barcelona. In 2014, the same year she was banned, Russian forces seized the international art center Izolyatsia in Donetsk, where Kulikovska’s work had been exhibited alongside artists like Cai Guo-Qiang and Pascale Marthine Tayou. The center was transformed into a prison and torture chamber, and Kulikovska’s sculptures—casts of her own naked, vulnerable body—were destroyed. These casts, symbolic of resilience and vulnerability, were later found in fragments by prisoners.
Reflecting on these events, Kulikovska’s work seeks to emancipate women’s bodies and empower voices resisting oppressive power structures. “In my work, I only create and speak about what I’ve experienced because I don’t think I have the right to do anything else,” says Kulikovska.
In Ukraine, Kulikovska launched the feminist initiative Flowers of Democracy, which challenged societal norms with a line of clothing featuring images of her vulva—garnering both acclaim and critique.
The exhibition at Mriya Gallery, Once Leda Found an Egg — Blue Like a Hyacinth, delves into themes of motherhood, trauma, and survival. It features casts of Kulikovska’s body, reminiscent of those destroyed at Izolyatsia, as well as casts of her limbs used in performances, documentation of her politically charged actions, and recent videos and drawings reflecting on the complex realities of motherhood during wartime.
“The exhibition title draws from a fragment of Sappho’s lost verse. The threats of assault by someone in power, reflected in the myth about Zeus and Leda are ever-present,” says curator Maria Vtorushina.
The exhibition features drawings by Maria Kulikovska’s daughter, Yeva Kulikovska-Vinnichenko, as well as sculptures created in collaboration with Oleh Vinnichenko.
This exhibition offers an exploration of Kulikovska’s journey and her unwavering commitment to
resistance, art, and the fight for justice.
Organised by: Rukh Art Hub and Mriya Gallery
Curator: Maria Vtorushina
About Mriya Gallery
As the first Ukrainian gallery in New York, based in the Tribeca area, Mriya Gallery showcases the rich diversity of Ukrainian art and culture. It is dedicated to fostering global appreciation for Ukrainian creative traditions and provides a platform for established and emerging artists to engage with international audiences. Committed to inclusivity, Mriya transcends borders by highlighting Ukrainian talent and global artistic perspectives, inviting guests to explore the beauty and influence of diverse cultural heritages. Formore information, visit mriya.nyc.
About Rukh Art Hub
Rukh Art Hub is a Ukrainian creative initiative based in New York, committed to empowering artists and creatives through exhibitions, events, and career development services. The platform serves as a bridge between Ukrainian and international art communities. For more information about Rukh Art Hub, visit us at www.rukharthub.com.
