Edition 1 · Nail Art
Yuliia Kovalchuk
Nails as sculpture — challenging the idea that they are purely functional or decorative objects.
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About the
Artist
Yuliia Kovalchuk is a New York–based nail artist working at the intersection of beauty and contemporary art. Her practice explores sculptural form, texture, and narrative through extreme-length nails and conceptual design. Combining traditional techniques with experimental materials, she creates pieces that challenge the perception of nails as purely functional or decorative objects.
Yuliia is an international award-winning artist, educator, and Nailympia judge. She also works across editorial and runway, collaborating with fashion creatives to translate concepts into nail design. Her work has been presented in exhibitions across New York, Miami, and Canada, and featured in Scratch Magazine.
The Works
World on the Tip of a Finger
This mixed-media sculpture balances an entire fragile microcosm on a human fingertip. It merges Earth, marine life, coral reefs, and a surreal figure into one delicate composition. The work symbolizes the extreme vulnerability of our planet and humanity's personal responsibility for its survival. The smallest movement can destroy the whole fragile balance. Drawn from surrealist art (Dalí, Magritte), current environmental crises, and the philosophical idea that every individual holds the fate of the world in their hands.
New York-New York
A hand presents extraordinarily long, sculptural fingernails transformed into a glittering miniature New York City. The mixed-media artwork features the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, iconic Broadway and street signs, and a vibrant “NEW YORK CITY” banner rendered in whimsical, glamorous detail. The work celebrates the energy and spirit of New York by making its most famous landmarks intimately accessible — literally at your fingertips. It transforms the monumental city into something personal, wearable, and instantly present. Drawn from New York's legendary architecture, street culture, pop art, and the expressive tradition of elaborate nail art as a form of personal storytelling and surreal miniature sculpture.
Stars in the Palm
A human hand grasps a cluster of ornate, jeweled scepters and talismans infused with astrological symbols, mythical creatures, cosmic fire, and zodiac motifs. The intricate mixed-media sculpture transforms celestial forces into tangible objects held within reach. The work embodies humanity's intimate relationship with the cosmos: the stars are not distant but something we can literally hold and shape. It reflects how astrology places destiny in our own hands. Drawn from classical zodiac mythology, ancient astrology, and surreal fantasy art that merges the mystical with the physical.
