Artist Biography
Daria Danova is a Ukrainian-born artist currently residing in France, recognized for her evocative figurative paintings that intertwine hyperrealism, surrealism, and symbolic narratives.
Having nurtured her artistic passion since childhood, Danova established her own studio in Ukraine, where she conducted workshops and exhibitions. The onset of war compelled her to leave her homeland, leading her to rebuild her life and artistic journey in France. This personal odyssey of loss and adaptation profoundly influences her creative expression.
Danova’s recent series explores the theme of childhood disrupted by conflict. By juxtaposing elements such as weapons, tattoos, and adult attire with the innocent visages of children, she highlights the stark contrast and the loss of innocence experienced by young Ukrainians. Her technique, primarily utilizing airbrush, allows for meticulous detail and a delicate interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the emotional depth of her subjects.
Her blurred portrait series embodies the concept that reality is not fixed but fluid, shaped by choices and perspectives. These works serve as metaphoric crossroads, inviting viewers to contemplate the myriad versions of self that exist within us.
Portfolio
Events
During participation in the Colors Festival 2024 in Champigny-sur-Marne, an immersive street art exhibition held in a 300 m² venue, Danova created two large-scale frescoes. One depicted fantastical jellyfish, while the other featured a majestic whale soaring over a red bridge, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in the United States. These works were part of the festival’s theme, “Nature Reclaims Its Rights,” and aimed to blend surreal imagery with environmental narratives.
Danova participated in the 2025 edition of RUR‑93, a dynamic urban art festival held in Montreuil, just outside Paris.
This year, the festival took over the District Training Zone, a former aluminum factory transformed into a boxing and MMA gym — a raw, industrial setting that inspired a bold fusion of sport and street art. Over 70 artists contributed to the space, reimagining walls, floors, and equipment with immersive installations and murals.
For her contribution, Danova created a baby boxer on one of the gym’s walls — a subtle yet powerful mural that captured the energy, grit, and vulnerability of the space. Positioned in the midst of a real boxing ring and training gear, her work resonated with the spirit of perseverance and inner strength that defines both boxing and creative practice.
Necker Hospital Project
In mid-2024, Necker–Enfants Malades Hospital unveiled a major street‑art initiative: more than 125 artworks now brighten over 2,000 m² of basement corridors, connecting its various wings . This project aims to bring color, hope, and creative warmth to the hospital environment, enhancing the daily experience of young patients, their families, and staff.
Danova was among the selected artists invited to paint in the hospital’s underground galleries, working alongside peers in a vibrant, collaborative atmosphere. She contributed a tender portrait of a child’s face, skillfully painted to reflect innocence and resilience. Placed amidst tunnels of vivid murals, her piece adds a quiet, emotional focal point that resonates with Necker’s mission of care through art.
