Hello, my name is Daria Zvarykina, and I’m a Ukrainian artist living in the Netherlands as a refugee due to the war in my home country. Art has been my passion and purpose my entire life—a guiding light through every challenge.

Today, I’m reaching out to ask for your support to help me take a transformative step in my artistic journey: enrolling in the full-time sculpture program at Figura Sculpture Academy in Amsterdam.

My Dream and Why I Need Your Help

My greatest aspiration is to enroll in Figura Sculpture Academy’s full-time sculpture program, where I can dedicate myself fully to mastering this craft. This structured training would provide me with the skills and mentorship to become a professional sculptor and build a sustainable career in art. However, as a refugee rebuilding my life, I lack the financial means to cover the program’s costs on my own. That’s why I’m launching this GoFundMe campaign.

What Your Support Will Cover:

My Lifelong Journey with Art

From a young age, I knew art was my calling. As a child, I studied at an art school in Ukraine, where I first discovered my love for creating. This passion led me to pursue formal education in the arts. From 2013 to 2015, I studied at Poltava National Technical University (Yuri Kondratyuk), specializing in Fine Arts. In 2020, I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Design at the prestigious Mykhailo Boichuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design, earning a professional qualification in design. From 2022 to 2024, I had the privilege of studying fine art and design at the world-renowned Gerrit Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands, an institution celebrated across Europe for its innovative approach to art education.

These experiences shaped me as an artist, but my heart has always been drawn to sculpture—a medium that allows me to breathe life into raw materials and tell stories through form. Discovering Figura Sculpture Academy here in the Netherlands, I found a creative haven. It’s more than just an art school—it’s a vibrant, welcoming community of artists who share my passion for sculpting, creating, and growing through art. The academy has become my second home, a safe space where I can heal and rebuild through creativity after the challenges of displacement. Though I can’t currently afford full-time tuition, I’ve immersed myself in the academy’s community. I assist by cleaning studios, supporting teachers, preparing materials, and welcoming guests during open house events. In return, I’m occasionally invited to join classes, and every moment I spend in the studio working with clay feels like a gift. These experiences have only deepened my dream of becoming a professional sculptor.

How You Can Help

If you believe in the power of art to heal, inspire, and create second chances, please consider supporting my journey. Even a small donation will bring me closer to my dream of becoming a professional sculptor. Sharing this campaign with others who value creativity and resilience would also mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting my dream. Your kindness and generosity will help me turn my passion into a lifelong career, creating beauty and meaning through sculpture.

Your contribution can also be rewarded. Based on the amount of your donation, I would be happy to offer you:

With heartfelt gratitude,

Daria