Sofia Balazova (Ufy Art)— Fragility, Light, and the Quiet Strength of the Human Spirit

One of the most extraordinary aspects of curating an international art auction is the moment you encounter a body of work that stops you in your tracks , work that feels both otherworldly and deeply human, delicate yet powerful, fragile yet resilient. This is exactly what I felt when I discovered the art of Sofia Balazova, whom I am proud to feature for the very first time in the Chinwe Russell Living Artists Christmas Auction.

Sofia brings a rare emotional honesty to her practice. With her background in psychology and her work supporting children and young people with special needs and mental health challenges, she understands the human condition with a sensitivity that is unmistakable. Her paintings feel like encounters , intimate, vulnerable, and quietly transformative. They invite you to witness not just a figure, but a feeling, a story, a lived truth.

And yet, what struck me most in her work are the figures themselves.

They are utterly intriguing , ghostlike, luminous beings rendered in warm yellows, oranges, and radiant tones that appear to glow from within. The yellow she uses is not simply a colour; it is a symbol of light, of spirit, of the fragile hope every human being carries. Even so, the figures maintain an otherworldly, almost alien presence, as though they exist on the threshold between the seen and the unseen.

Their large, sunken, haunting eyes are the first thing that pulls you in. These eyes do not merely look at you ,they look into you. They feel like a plea, a question, a whisper:“Do you see me? Do you understand me? Can you hold space for my story?”

There is an immediacy in these gazes, something that reaches past the painted surface and touches the viewer directly. And yet, despite the vulnerability in their faces, despite the sense that each figure has endured something heavy, sorrowful, or unspoken, there is also a quiet dignity in all three works. A hidden core of strength. A resilience that says:

"I have been through so much — and yet I am still here."

This duality , fragility and resilience, sorrow and light , is where the emotional power of Sofia’s art truly lives.

The Works

Lumina

Here, the warm yellow tones become a glowing aura, encircling a figure who radiates both vulnerability and inner fire. The eyes, large and searching, seem to hold a lifetime of stories. Despite the fragility of the form, there is unmistakable strength — an unbroken flame.

This is a painting that feels like a beacon, calling us toward compassion, understanding, and hope.

Inner Self

Soft, introspective, and hauntingly serene, this piece feels like a whispered conversation with the soul.The figure is contemplative, almost ethereal, as though drifting between the emotional and the spiritual. The glowing halo-like ring behind the head, painted in delicate tones, suggests enlightenment — or perhaps the moment just before it.

It is a deeply peaceful work, yet its eyes still call to you, asking to be seen.

Through the Storm

This work pulses with emotion and survival. The swirling colours, the expressive texture, and the figure’s tilted posture capture the turbulence of living through difficulty.Yet again, those haunting eyes , full of memory, pain, strength , hold you in place.

This painting feels like an emergence ,someone stepping out of darkness with hard-won clarity.

Together, these works form a powerful emotional trilogy about transformation, resilience, vulnerability, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. They belong to the world of Ufy Art ,a world where emotion takes shape, where feelings become visible, and where every brushstroke is an act of courage.

A Perfect Artist for the Christmas Auction

It is a privilege to present Sofia Balazova at this year’s Christmas Auction. Her work speaks to everything the season represents:light in darkness, compassion, healing, and the courage to continue despite hardship.

I warmly encourage collectors, art lovers, and all who value emotionally powerful work to:

• engage with Sofia’s art,

• follow her journey,

• and most importantly, consider acquiring one of these pieces.

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All three paintings are now available for bidding in the Chinwe Russell Living Artists Christmas Auction.

These are works that stay with you — pieces that connect with your own emotional landscape and remind you of the quiet strength within us all.

Bid now, and welcome Sofia Balazova’s unforgettable vision into your collection