SECOND PLACE WINNER
International Virtual Juried Exhibition — Landscape Cityscape Edition 2026
AWARD-WINNING ARTWORK
Second Place Award in the International Virtual Juried Exhibition — Landscape Cityscape Edition 2026
Awarded Artwork: Steps Toward Yasaka Pagoda
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Oksana Trofimova is a Ukrainian visual artist from Kherson, now living and working in Kamakura, Japan. She has been drawing for as long as she can remember and began pursuing art professionally after completing her master’s studies in Japan. Working in watercolor, pen and ink, pencil, and oil, she creates urban landscapes, coastal scenes, portraits, and still lifes. Her Ukrainian roots and life in Japan inform her perspective and the places she chooses to depict. Through careful observation and attention to detail, her work explores the character of places and preserves moments that hold personal meaning. She has participated in juried exhibitions in Japan and internationally.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My practice begins with composition—the quiet backbone that brings structure, harmony, and rhythm to a scene. I choose materials according to each subject and mood, from precise black-and-white ink drawings to transparent watercolor. Drawing places dear to me, I bring together my Ukrainian background and life in Japan, with a particular sensitivity to light, shadow, and atmosphere. I am drawn to ordinary moments that become precious with time, and I seek to preserve something of them before they fade. Although my work begins with my own observations and memories, I leave room for viewers to bring their own experiences to each image and find a personal connection.
ARTWORK STATEMENT
Steps Toward Yasaka Pagoda
‘Steps Toward Yasaka Pagoda’ grew out of my affection for Kyoto and my interest in the details that give the city its character. During a walk toward Yasaka Pagoda, I came across a street where traditional wooden buildings stood alongside utility poles and overhead wires. I was drawn to the contrast between the historic architecture and these everyday elements of modern life, as well as the many lines and textures in the scene. Using black-and-white ink and detailed hatching, I sought to capture the character of this particular street. For me, Kyoto’s beauty lies not only in its famous temples and landmarks, but also in its ordinary streets, where the past and present naturally exist side by side.
Published by New Road 2 Art Editorial Team