ARTIST STATEMENT
I use traditional Ukrainian loom beading techniques to honor my heritage, though my patterns are modern. As a queer and disabled woman, I strive for my work to align with anti-oppressive values.
For materials, I source the rare “perfect cylinder” Toho Aiko beads—woven together with strong fishing line. The beads come in a variety of finishes that together create a beautiful gleam.
“Double the Hours of Housework Per Week,” in 2,200 beads, highlights the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) 2024 report’s finding that “working women spend 2X as many hours per week as working men on childcare and household work combined.”
The “home” side of the piece emphasizes the invisible nature of care work through the use of transparent beads with matte or low-shine finishes. The “office” side features bright opaque beads with metallic, luster, or crystal finishes. The graph next to the woman is traced directly from the GEPI report, showing “Weekly Hours Spent on Childcare and Household Work by Gender and Race/Ethnicity.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yuliya is a Ukrainian-born disabled artist based in Chicago. For more than ten years, she worked as a multimedia writer and health journalist. Now she makes beaded art using traditional Ukrainian techniques and modern patterns. Yuliya learned loom beading as a child—but forgot it all until 2023, when she was looking for a way to reconnect with her culture. In 2024, she started showcasing her work while working as a health reporter—then transitioned to being a full-time artist. In less than a year, Yuliya’s beading has been featured at 15+ Chicagoland galleries, fairs, and artisan stores.
© Yuliya Klochan