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Artist Statement
Yuliya Alagir is an international contemporary artist whose practice operates at the intersection of conceptual symbolism, artistic research, and lyrical expressionism. At the core of her work lies an investigation into ancient symbolic structures and their continuation within contemporary visual language. For many years she has been developing the long-term artistic research project “Mystery of the Sun.” Within this project, the artist explores the visual language of symbols that existed long before the emergence of written culture. Her focus lies on universal symbolic structures that the human mind recognizes intuitively, at the level of deep cultural memory. Through painting, Alagir examines how these archetypal forms continue to function in contemporary perception. In her works, the symbol becomes the structural foundation of the composition, while color serves as a guiding element that directs the viewer’s attention, shifting perception from the level of image toward an intuitive recognition of symbolic form and the inner experience that follows. After relocating to Canada, this investigation expanded into a new line of artistic practice — lyrical expressionism. In works inspired by the landscapes of Alberta, the artist turns to the pictorial environment as a space of experience: color, light, and texture form an atmosphere in which landscape ceases to represent a specific location and instead emerges as a state of natural presence. In this way, Alagir’s practice connects two complementary directions: the exploration of archetypal symbolic structures and the lived experience of natural environment through the language of contemporary painting. At the heart of her artistic system lies a transition from the archetypal symbol to the experiential space of environment. |
Biography
Yuliya Alagir is an international contemporary artist based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She was born in Tashkent, Central Asia, and descends from the ancient Ossetian Kulaev clan associated with the Alagir Valley of North Ossetia–Alania.
Largely self-taught, Alagir developed her artistic language through independent study of classical art, museum practice, and ongoing experimentation with materials. Her multidisciplinary practice spans painting, watercolor, murals, jewelry, and three-dimensional objects.
At the center of her work is the long-term artistic research project “Mystery of the Sun,” which explores ancient symbolic systems and their continuation within contemporary visual language. Since relocating to Canada in 2018, she has also developed a body of lyrical expressionist works inspired by the landscapes of Alberta.
Her works are held in museum and private collections internationally.
Yuliya Alagir is an international contemporary artist based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She was born in Tashkent, Central Asia, and descends from the ancient Ossetian Kulaev clan associated with the Alagir Valley of North Ossetia–Alania.
Largely self-taught, Alagir developed her artistic language through independent study of classical art, museum practice, and ongoing experimentation with materials. Her multidisciplinary practice spans painting, watercolor, murals, jewelry, and three-dimensional objects.
At the center of her work is the long-term artistic research project “Mystery of the Sun,” which explores ancient symbolic systems and their continuation within contemporary visual language. Since relocating to Canada in 2018, she has also developed a body of lyrical expressionist works inspired by the landscapes of Alberta.
Her works are held in museum and private collections internationally.
Professional Memberships
- Member, Art Union of the Artists at the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
- Member, Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC)
- Member, Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA)
- Recognized Professional Artist, United Art Rating (since 2004)
Collections
Works by Yuliya Alagir are held in public and private collections internationally, including the Contemporary Museum of Uzbekistan (CAMUZ), Lazgi Museum, the Foundation of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, and the CDHA Fund in Moscow. Her works are also included in corporate and professional collections such as the National Bank of Uzbekistan (NBU) and the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC). In addition, her paintings are held in private collections across Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Israel, Australia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the former Yugoslavia.
Works by Yuliya Alagir are held in public and private collections internationally, including the Contemporary Museum of Uzbekistan (CAMUZ), Lazgi Museum, the Foundation of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, and the CDHA Fund in Moscow. Her works are also included in corporate and professional collections such as the National Bank of Uzbekistan (NBU) and the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC). In addition, her paintings are held in private collections across Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Israel, Australia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the former Yugoslavia.