Photo by Mike Szpot, Seaport Entertainment Group
Photos by Katie Godowski
Olga Muzician, The Seaport, NYC 2024
Artist Bio: Olga is a Ukrainian-born, New Jersey-based letterer and designer who specializes in colorful digital lettering, murals, food and chalk lettering, and editorial design. She has studied art most of her life, starting out as a student in her painter-godfather’s art studio at the age of 6. Her early art education centered around fine arts and oil painting before transitioning to communications design studies in college. She started her own full-time lettering and design business under the name Olga Muzician Studio after leaving her job of eight years working as an Art Director in an international department of a large magazine publishing house in New York City. In her freelance career, she has had the honor of working with such clients as Coca Cola, Crayola, Snapchat, Trader Joe’s, Chili’s, Papyrus, Tillamook, Dolce & Gabbana, Winsor & Newton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Harper’s Bazaar, Arteza and many more.
Artist statement: I specialize in helping spaces all over the world stand out with bold and colorful murals, lettering and illustrations. My mission is to create eye-catching, positive and colorful designs that not only help to create unique spaces and experiences but also serve to inspire and uplift people. My art and murals often feature messaging through the use of hand lettering as well as botanical and nature inspired design elements. Nature is one of my biggest inspirations as I have always found my solace and happiness while exploring natural trails and hiking in beautiful National Parks.
It was such a wonderful and inspiring experience getting to paint the beautiful South Street Seaport with so many other talented artists. For my project with You Are Not Alone Murals, I wanted to incorporate a botanical theme because I believe nature has the power to quiet an anxious mind and bring peace to those immersed in it. It was also very important to me to letter the phrase “You are not alone” in Ukrainian for several reasons. I am from Ukraine and still have family and friends there and for the past 2+ years, things have been very difficult because of the ongoing war. While in some ways, life has to go on as normal in most parts of Ukraine, there is always a looming fear hanging over everyone’s heads, which definitely has a negative impact on mental health. I wanted to not only bring awareness to the importance of mental health to an audience that sometimes tends to avoid talking about it but also to say that the people of Ukraine are not alone in that the world stands with them. It’s a message of solidarity as much as it is a message of support.