STM student shares perspective on Ukrainian heritage through art

Marta Krueger will earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours degree this spring after five years of development as a multi-media artist.

As an artist, she is accustomed to exploring her internal landscape and expressing her unique perspective, primarily through painting and sculpture. (It probably doesn't hurt that she also has a minor in Psychology).

Her exhibition “Connections”, on display in the STM Gallery until May 5, takes that deeply personal exploration to another level. It is a collection of paintings that goes to the root of her identity.

“Connections is a body of work that focuses on expressing the visual elements that define what it means to me to be Ukrainian,” said Krueger. “In the winter term of 2022, I took a special topics course that focused on Ukrainian Folklore and Ethnic identity. In this class, I discovered that I have always expressed my connections to my Ukrainian heritage through visual art.”

“I have always had a passion for creative expression. But it was because of this special topics class that I realized the work that I feel the most connected to is the art that expresses my cultural and ethnic identity. And through this realization, the theme of my show was revealed,” she said.

Krueger said when she was brainstorming ideas for the pieces in the show, she was trying to identify one key concept that she could determine as the root of her Ukrainian identity.

“What I quickly discovered is that there is not one specific element that expresses this, but a vast collection of things that combine together to create who I am as a Ukrainian-Canadian. So, instead of picking one subject, I decided to try and express them all together.”

Krueger is the co-president of the University of Saskatchewan Ukrainian Students’ Association, and also a former Ukrainian dancer, so her connection to her heritage was a deep well from which to draw her inspiration.

“In this body of work, I hope that the viewer is drawn into the bright colours, movements, and patterns that I found in Ukrainian dance. I hope the viewer feels the strength behind the Ukrainian women who taught me to express myself through language and art, to find and use my voice, and to love every part of who I am. I hope the viewer can feel the warmth of our family ties, and the power behind our shared folklore and traditions. But most of all, I hope that my art communicates the strength and connections we, as a community, have as Ukrainians.”

Artist’s Biography

Marta Krueger is a multi-medium artist, but her primary art practices are painting and sculpture.

Marta has spent the past five years working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours degree, with a minor in Psychology. She will be graduating this spring of 2023.

In the near future, Marta plans to continue exploring her creativity and her education in Fine Arts and Art History.

Marta also has interest in studying the connections between visual arts, folklore, and cultural traditions. It is through her connections to her Ukrainian heritage and traditions that Marta draws inspiration for making her art.

You can contact marta on instagram or via email at:

Instagram: martas_portfolio_

Gmail: martakrueger00@gmail.com