9th BSEC Month of Culture
1-30 November 2025
In its ninth year, the BSEC Month of Culture feature “Black Sea Women in the Arts” focuses on contemporary women artists from across the BSEC region who are making a lasting impact on the cultural and creative sectors.
The ICBSS has conducted a series of online interviews with women artists from the Black Sea, who shared insights into their work through their contributions.
Katya Syta, Collage Artist | Ukraine
Please introduce yourself to our audience. Share with us some key information about yourself and your career, such as your educational background, participation in events like festivals or exhibitions, and any awards you have received.
Please introduce yourself to our audience. Share with us some key information about yourself and your career, such as your educational background, participation in events like festivals or exhibitions, and any awards you have received.
My name is Katya Syta, and I am a contemporary collage artist from Ukraine. I also create and lead therapeutic collage workshops. As an experimenter, I am the founder of a new approach to collage art: emotional and philosophical collage. In addition to my artistic work, I am a communication expert, mentor, activist, and volunteer. I serve as the curator and coordinator of CUTOUT COLLAGE FESTIVAL, Ukraine’s first national collage exhibition, which I also helped establish. I am proud to have played a key role in popularizing collage art in Ukraine, and I use my art to foster cultural diplomacy.
Tell us about the art form(s) you work on. Share with us some interesting information about the creative process.
The most popular form that I use is the collage. I make them from whatever I can find at the time.
If you had to present us just one of your artworks, which one would you select? Share with us the details and the message you want to communicate through this artwork.
I created four collages to raise awareness for the protection of Ukrainian prisoners. This series is part of a larger project that has been showcased in multiple countries, including France (Paris and Strasbourg), the Netherlands, Japan (Tokyo), and Germany (Berlin). As the curator of this project, I had the honour of speaking at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, earlier in 2025.
Women artists still face many barriers and disparities. What inspires you to continue being creative and staying focused on doing what you love?
My inspiration comes from other people and faith.
Art can be a catalyst for intercultural dialogue, gender equality and social inclusion. What is your vision for the role of your work in addressing these issues?
I believe that art is a universal language that connects everything in this world. It can open minds and hearts, foster understanding, and ultimately build hope for a better future.
Is there anything else that you would like to discuss?
For me, it is important that cultural diplomacy will play a greater role.
Sources and Photographs:
https://www.cutoutfestival.com/en/katya-syta
https://www.facebook.com/katya.syta
https://www.facebook.com/cutout.festival
https://www.instagram.com/katyasyta.art/
Photograph No 1: Katya Syta
Photograph No 2: Katya Syta Creating a Collage
Photograph No 3: "A collage with no name" by Katya Syta
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks go to Ms. Katya Syta for generously sharing her valuable insights with the ICBSS.
The ICBSS also extends its sincere appreciation to Ms. Tetiana Druzhchenko, Head of the Foresight Sector at the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, for facilitating this meaningful connection.
DISCLAIMER
This post was prepared by the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS). It reflects the views of the interviewees only and does not necessarily represent the views of ICBSS or its affiliated institutions. The ICBSS cannot be held responsible for any use of the information contained herein.
#ICBSS #MoC2025 #CultureBSEC #Ukraine #MosaicArt
