Victoria Unikel, a self-made millionaire and renowned artist, is using an unconventional medium in her latest artwork to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. Mixing her own blood with that of her Ukrainian husband, Gene Avakyan, she aims to send a powerful message advocating for peace and the end of conflict.
Unikel’s journey from poverty to success is a real-life rags-to-riches story. Growing up in a communist-controlled Russia, she shared a cold, crumbling flat with three other families. Today, at 46, her life in Miami, Florida is starkly different; she wants for nothing and has found love with her 52-year-old husband, Gene.
However, the recent atrocities in Ukraine and Israel have deeply affected Unikel. As a businesswoman and artist with 655,000 Instagram followers, she feels compelled to use her platform and talent to call for an end to violence. Her latest artworks incorporate both her and her husband’s blood, symbolizing the bond of love between Russia and Ukraine.
“These paintings use mine and Gene’s blood mixed together to represent the bond of love between Ukraine and Russia,” Unikel explained. “It shows that both sides of the conflict can be connected, as we’re all the same – using blood strips us down to our bare minimum that we are as humans.”
Unikel has also created pieces addressing the conflict in Israel, using photos of victims and blood from a friend with Israeli roots. Her mission is to humanize all sides involved in conflicts and to advocate for peace.
This cause is particularly personal for Unikel, whose father was imprisoned for political reasons, and whose grandparents were exiled to Siberia as enemies of the state. These experiences of injustice have fueled her passion for advocating for others.
While her methods and materials have sparked controversy, Unikel welcomes the backlash. “I’m not tip-toeing around the problem and I’m not afraid of the reaction,” she stated. “It’s a loud message that not everyone likes.”
To create her artwork, Unikel uses a lancet device to prick her finger, drawing blood which she then mixes with red paint. The pieces, which take up to three days to complete, involve acrylic paint, varnish, photos, blood, and canvas isolation to ensure their preservation for up to 100 years.
Currently, Unikel is in discussions with a well-known gallery in Hollywood to exhibit these pieces to those who can appreciate their deeper meaning. “I truly believe that if we all make a conscious effort to choose good over evil in our own lives, it will spill over to the world around us,” she said. “I’ve put my literal blood, sweat, and tears into these pieces of art. It’s a message of peace and trying to make others see these victims and those involved as people who are not a part of the conflict.”
Unikel’s unique approach and heartfelt message are making waves in the art world, challenging viewers to reconsider their perspectives on war and peace.