“African Woman. Power of Spirits” – Original Painting by Marina Stognieva

The Story Behind the Painting

“African Woman. Power of Spirits” is an original painting by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva, created in 2019. The work is painted in oil on canvas and measures 50 × 60 cm.

At the centre of the composition is a woman with a direct and focused gaze. Her figure is framed by two stylised masks, while vivid, layered adornments stand out against the dark background. This contrast creates a strong sense of inner strength, composure, and symbolic presence.

General view of the painting “African Woman. Power of Spirits”. Oil on canvas, 50 × 60 cm, 2019.

The title “Power of Spirits” gives the work its symbolic direction. The masks can be read as images of memory, invisible presence, and a connection with forces that exist beyond everyday experience. At the same time, the central figure remains independent and powerful, meeting the viewer with an unwavering gaze.

The dark palette of the figure and background is balanced by intense blue, yellow, pink, orange, and violet accents. Marina Stognieva uses textured applications of oil paint, particularly in the jewellery and decorative elements, giving the surface a tactile and expressive quality.

Detail of “African Woman. Power of Spirits” — texture and details of the oil painting.

The nude figure is part of a broader symbolic image rather than an everyday scene. The focus remains on the woman herself — her dignity, inner power, and the relationship between her presence and the mysterious forms that surround her.

The painting was presented at the “Mytets” Art Gallery in Kyiv in June 2019, the same year it was created. Its exhibition history therefore became part of the work’s story from the very beginning.

Interior visualisation of the painting “African Woman. Power of Spirits”.

“African Woman. Power of Spirits” is a symbolic female portrait built through the interaction of gaze, colour, texture, and mysterious imagery. The work combines decorative intensity with psychological tension, leaving space for the viewer’s own interpretation of its symbols.

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Artwork Details

Original Artwork & Collectible Fine Art Prints

The painting “African Woman. Power of Spirits” is an original artwork by Marina Stognieva, created by hand in oil on canvas and existing as a unique one-of-a-kind work.

Collectible Fine Art Prints personally signed by Marina Stognieva may also be available for selected works. Available formats, materials, prices, and other details can be discussed before ordering.

Payment & Worldwide Shipping

Payment can be made via PayPal, bank transfer, or another agreed method.

Worldwide shipping is available. Shipping costs and estimated delivery times are calculated individually depending on the destination and order details.

The painting on canvas is carefully packaged to protect the painted surface and ensure safe transportation. All purchase, payment, packaging, and international shipping details can be discussed directly with the artist before ordering.

“In this work, it was important for me to convey not external exoticism, but a sense of inner strength. The woman’s gaze, the masks beside her, and the vivid adornments create a space where memory, spirituality, and an invisible connection with what cannot always be explained in words are present.”

— Marina Stognieva