Blue acrobat

The painting is one of the works from “The Mask and the Mirror” series. This series is inspired by the world of the circus, but not as we usually know it. Here, the circus becomes a metaphor: for the world we live in, for the chaos and wonder of modern life.

Each painting is a a visual story about dreams, those we’ve lost, those we’ve found, and those we still dare to chase. It’s about remembering the inner child, the one who believed in magic and moved through the world with curiosity and openness. In these works, I try to keep that spirit alive and give it a stage.

The series reflects on the roles we all play, the masks we wear, and the quiet truth of who we really are underneath. Performers, animals, tents, and tightropes become emblems of the human condition: fragile, beautiful, sometimes absurd, often brave.

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Poetic Narratives in Oil and Charcoal

Representing a distinctive voice in contemporary Australian art, Olga Bakhtina is a Brisbane-based artist known for her evocative oil and charcoal compositions that weave together classical inspiration and modern storytelling. Her work is marked by deep historical consciousness, delicate symbolism, and an unmistakable emotional resonance.

Born in Russia and artistically shaped across three continents, Olga’s creative journey began over 15 years ago at an art school in the Sultanate of Oman, where she lived with her family for four years. Upon returning to Australia, she studied under Archibald Prize winner David Paulson, further refining her technique and expression. In 2024, she completed her academic journey with a degree in Art History from the University of Queensland, deepening her engagement with Early Renaissance art, which remains a profound source of serenity and inspiration in her practice.

Since her first solo exhibition in Oman in 2012, Olga has exhibited regularly in Australia. Her most recent solo exhibitions include:

-Inner Garden, Secret Garden, Leda Gallery, Newcastle (2022)

-Serendipity in Blue, Tiny Tree Gallery, Brisbane (2022)
Good Samaritan and Other Biblical Stories, St John’s

- Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane CBD (2023)
Olive Branch, Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane CBD (2023)

-Sailing to Byzantium, St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane CBD (2024)

-Garden of Hope, St Luke’s Anglican Church, Toowoomba (2024)

- Affordable Art Fair Brisbane, Brisbane (2025)

The next solo exhibition is scheduled for July-August 2025 in St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane CBD.

Olga is a multiple Australian award-winner, including the COSSAG Art Prize (2016, 2018), and accolades at the Royal Queensland Art Society for Naked Truth and Modernism (2021).

Her paintings are held in significant public and private collections, including:

The Archdiocese of Brisbane
Australian Catholic University
Rosebank College (NSW)
St Anselm Abbey, New Hampshire, USA
Numerous private collections in Australia and abroad

Olga’s works have been featured in international publications such as The Double: Identity and Difference in Art since 1900 by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and educational materials by Cengage Learning Australia, etc.

In 2022, the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s “Art Aficionados” video series featured a special analysis of Olga’s work The Good Samaritan, presented by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Dr Maeve Louise Heaney, and Rev Dr Tom Elich. You can Art Aficionados Episode 3 on YouTube.