I am Olga Belova, a hyperrealist artist working exclusively on untreated silk.

My decision to work on silk was deliberate. I was drawn to its tension — its softness paired with absolute irreversibility. Unlike canvas, silk does not allow correction. Pigment penetrates the fibers immediately, fixing each gesture in place. This process demands control and precision, and over time it shaped the way I think about painting itself.

Hyperrealism, in my practice, is not about imitation but discipline. Every detail is constructed deliberately, every transition of light is measured. The surface remains soft, yet the presence it holds is firm.

The animals I depict function as presences rather than subjects. I am interested in the moment before movement — in contained power, in strength expressed through stillness.

Silk carries light differently from traditional painting surfaces. Light moves through the image rather than reflecting from it, creating depth and an internal luminosity that cannot be replicated on canvas. This dialogue between fragility and authority defines my visual language.

Each work is a one-of-a-kind piece. I do not produce prints and I do not repeat paintings.

My works are held in private collections internationally.

SONOSETA derives from the Italian phrase “Sono Seta” — “I am silk.”

I chose this name at the beginning of my artistic path, when I was working with silk as a textile. As my practice evolved into hyperrealistic painting, the name remained.

It continues to reflect my relationship with the fabric — not as surface, but as identity.