VICTOR: Olympia’s art breaks barriers

Can you imagine painting, drilling and gluing 1,800 cubes onto a silver backdrop to tell the story of a city skyline?

Local artist Olympia Nicolcev created this artwork, and it is genius.

I would love to own her “floral images deconstructed on metal”, her “floating cubes on Plexiglas” or her “10 ft. x 14 ft. dance of colours, shining thru a coat of clear resin”. Visit her site, www.olympiafineart.com, and see for yourself her iconoclastic work. Despite her success, she remains down to earth and continually excited about exploring new ways to express herself creatively.

When I visit her she can’t wait to show me what she’s working on in her studio.

It may be something large scale for the Dennison Gallery, who represents her, or it might be something on a more modest scale that will be shown along with the works of other North Toronto Group of Artists.

It is always new and interesting. I asked her when her interest in art began. She answered: “I started grouping my toys by colours before I was able to draw. Once I started to paint there was nothing else that interested me — ever! Art is in my structure. I’ve never been separated from it.”

She has broken all the rules, combining various media and paint, an assortment of materials and colours, photo images and shapes. As she says, “I love to play.”

Olympia takes her inspiration from nature, “the way scientific rules apply to every aspect of nature, from the geometry of flowers
to the perfect balance of colours.”

“During my walks at the cottage or the market, I pick up anything that can be incorporated in a piece of art,” she says.

She was once stopped at airport security when sea sand was found in her bag and was tested for radioactive elements.

She is not one to panic. This experience, no doubt, found itself in one of her artworks, both physically and emotionally. It’s not surprising that she labels herself “unconventional” and loves the work of Andy Warhol, the world-renowned artist and innovator.

Her biggest challenge is to “free people from their preconceived ideas about art.”

“I don’t want to paint like the other artists who have come before me, because it has already been done,” she says.

She is not one to stand still. I for one can’t wait to see her next extraordinary exploration.