Birds in Love — Folk Art Mural in Ukraine
Birds in Love is a hand-painted folk art mural created in 2022 on a residential gate in Stavok village, Ukraine. Designed as an outdoor mural art painting, the work brings visual storytelling into an everyday environment, transforming a functional surface into a place of quiet connection.
Project Overview
Project type: Folk art mural / outdoor mural
Year: 2022
Location: Stavok village, Ukraine
Surface: Residential gate
Medium: Hand-painted mural
Process & Materials
The mural was hand-painted on site, with the composition developed in response to the scale and structure of the gate. Working directly on the surface allowed the artwork to evolve in dialogue with its physical setting.
Attention was given to durability and visual balance, ensuring the mural remains legible and welcoming as part of an outdoor environment exposed to everyday use.
Concept & Storytelling
The composition centres on two birds meeting in a moment of stillness. Birds are a recurring motif in my practice, symbolising relationship, balance, and the shared space between movement and pause.
Rather than presenting a fixed narrative, the mural uses visual storytelling to invite reflection. The encounter between the birds suggests connection without definition, allowing viewers to bring their own meaning to the scene as they pass by.
This approach allows the mural to function gently within its environment, revealing its story gradually through repeated viewing.
Bird - symbol of freedom, spirit, and harmony in Ukrainian culture
If you’re interested in commissioning a mural or discussing a cultural or public art project, you’re welcome to get in touch.
About the Artist
Anna Mykhalchuk is a Ukrainian-Australian artist and muralist based in Australia. Her practice focuses on working with Samchykivka painting as a living cultural tradition, translated into contemporary mural, public art, and educational contexts.
Reflection
As a residential mural, Birds in Love demonstrates how folk art and symbolic imagery can function within private yet outward-facing spaces. The mural offers a moment of visual pause, creating a welcoming presence that blends quietly into daily routines.
Rather than drawing attention through scale or contrast, the work relies on rhythm, symbolism, and familiarity, allowing meaning to unfold over time.