BIO
Stand at the counter and sell your work! If you think that someone will promote your work or promote you, you can pack your bags and go home! My name is Yevhenii Lytvynenko and I am a artist & designer. I started in the small industrial town called Zelenodolsk. After finishing a couple of art schools, I realized that there was nothing more to catch there and applied to the nearest art college.
After studying there for 2 years, at the suggestion of my teacher, I entered the art and graphic faculty at university of art (followed my father's path). I painted a lot at plein airs, but without any monetization, I decided to turn around and follow the path of design. As a result, I realized one simple truth there: I don't want to work until I lose my pulse, unloading wagons and digging holes to earn a living while having golden hands. "If you don't figure out how to sell your draw- ings, then you'll stay here, unloading wagons or making commercials to get some food, at best you'll be a teacher..." – I kept telling myself.Gathering my spirit and strength, I moved to Kyiv with only 100 hryvnias (20 dollars at the dollar at that time) in my pocket. After getting a job as a designer at a plastic card factory, I began to dream of my own studio. Then a whirlwind of events began! First the I got job at graphic design studio, then its closing and... returning home.
The second attempt to move to Kyiv, already as an interior designer, was more successful! After working in this field for 12 years, I real- ized that I was doing more into psychology and counseling than design all the way. I was just falling off my feet and I was mentally exhaust- ed. With such a schedule, there was no time for drawing and designing at all.I reassessed my values and life positions after creating a family and having a child. It definitely influ- enced my development as a designer. My design has become more practical. It was clear to me now that design should solve a specific household problem.
Many of my friends have asked why I do these tons of drawings, why all this? The idea did not come immediately, more precisely after the first trip to Milan, iSaloni. I finally figured out how to digitize all the draw- ings I stored in boxes and created "TheO" wallpaper brand! The project got off the ground only after a year, when we took on it as a whole family.The project got off the ground only after a year, when we took on it as a whole family. Enlightenment: design is about doing things step by step, daily, it's not a one day revolution!
Next was the creation of the first Ukrainian brand of furniture and decor "First family" (in cooperation with an entrepreneur and a sailor from Zaporizhzhia). It was an inexpensive line of furniture and decor for young Ukrainian families. There were Carpathian carpets, and Lviv art glass, and ceramic dishes, and metal furniture + decor! In general, I thought that it was a great start, a mega project, but unfortu- nately after a year the project blew up. Someone will ask why I did not leave all this? Inner faith that everything will work out and daily work – that's what keeps me going year after year!
Then there was one of the most successful collaborations, the one with chil- dren's furniture brand "Sleep Onn". There was a large room for creativity, because everything started from scratch. In 2 years, we made a brand and a full line of children's modern furniture, even collaborated with two more brands, "Lilu" and "Drimai", but due to the pandemic we had to focus on the main thing. The start of the project happened just at the beginning of the quarantine... It was difficult, but we persevered.
After a successful case, we started the "ReQuiet" project with the FDA Group: noise-absorbing surfaces from recycled plastic bottles and a line of office furniture. Now, during the war, we are working in Kyiv and have launched our line of furniture and decor. And we opened our own showroom in the very center of Kyiv in the stock exchange and continue to participate in the international exhibitions Isaloni, Maison & Objet, London design fair, Viena design week, Zurich design week, I Am U YARE New York and LA.
Now it's time to return to the path of art again, because in parallel with design, for all these 20 years I have been drawing and creating with applications, graphics and painting, but it all went into a drawer or on the roof ...
During the period of full-scale invasion, we launched our own collection of furniture and decor and participated in international exhibi- tions in Milan iSaloni Paris Maison object London DECOREX, New York and LA (i Am u you are), Venice Design Week, Zurich Design Week and local local exhibitions. Now it's time to return to the path of art again, because in parallel with design, for all these 20 years I have been drawing and creating with applica- tions, graphics and painting, but it all went into a drawer or on the roof ...
Believe in yourself and your ideas! Step by step, every day and everything will work out!
New workshop +
showroom wallpapers + fabric TheO ®