Ola Volo is a
Kazakh Canadian artist,[1] best known as a public
muralist.[2] Her style blends aspects of Eastern European folk art with a focus on pattern and narrative to depict fantasy scenes.[3]
Volo has been commissioned by companies like
Hootsuite,
Lululemon, and
Starbucks[4] and has created numerous works around the Vancouver area where she previously resided.
In 2021, Volo was asked to create mural to bring awareness to the rise of abuse against women due to COVID-19.
Career
Her work has included neighbourhood murals and corporate commissioned work in
Vancouver,[1] the Mackey Building in
Sudbury as part of the 2016
Up Here Festival,[5] and Walla Volo in
Montreal's
Mile End neighbourhood, the largest mural in Canada painted by a woman.[6]
Volo's art has been used as product labels such as the ones for Doan’s
Craft Brewing Company located in
East Vancouver[1] as well as painting a mural for the company's tasting room.[9]
In 2017, Volo created a mural for the Forge, a parking area located in
Granville Island. Despite being a muralist, exhibiting her process live while in the presence of visitors as well as interacting with them was new to Volo.[4]
She participated in the National Newspaper Week in 2021 by designing a print[10][11] to spread awareness about the importance and reliability provided by newspapers.[12]
Personal life
Due to Volo’s popularity in Vancouver, it led to a brief break from the city and a new studio set up in Montréal. The stay in the city allowed Volo rest and time to reflect[1] as well as inspiration for her WALLA VOLO mural.[13]
YWCA Wall For Women
Located at Hyatt Regency along
Burrard Street is Volo’s mural called Wall for Women. With the familiar influence of Eastern European folk art present in Volo’s works,[14] this mural was done with the intention to spread awareness on the rise in relationship violence against women which has been a prevalent issue during
COVID-19 as well as a symbol of empowerment.[15]
Integrated in the mural are five QR codes containing information about
domestic abuse as well as a way to donate and provide aid to women suffering from mistreatment.[14]