Mariya Myronova Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

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Cambridge-based social surrealist artist working primarily in oil and watercolour. My practice explores the human mind, modern society and the hidden systems that shape behaviour. Through symbolic, visually engaging compositions, I turn familiar objects into clues within psychological and social “visual equations”.

My practice is rooted in social surrealism. I explore the human mind, modern society and the invisible structures that shape behaviour, identity and public performance. Working primarily in oil, alongside watercolour and drawing, I create symbolic compositions that combine personal observation, psychological tension, social commentary and subconscious imagery.

I often think of my paintings as visual equations. Familiar objects become clues: a dove, a glass, a brain, a mask, a flower or a domestic object can shift meaning and reveal something uncomfortable beneath the surface. I am interested in the contrast between beauty and tension, control and vulnerability, public image and hidden truth.

My process usually begins with an idea or question I ask myself first, it can be about human behaviour or society. I develop this through sketches, full research on topic and symbolic connections before building the final painting through underpainting, layering and glazing. This allows me to create visually engaging works while keeping deeper conceptual meaning close to the surface.

I want my work to invite viewers to pause, decode and recognise something about themselves or the world they live in. My paintings do not offer direct answers; they open a dialogue between the image, the viewer and the social reality behind it.