“Can art foster a deeper relationship between the physical world and the spiritual world? Where in art history have these two worlds converged? Are there certain aesthetics found in historical works that have helped to create a bridge to the transcendent? These are some of the questions my work explores. Investigating everything from ancient Roman architecture to Arabic tile work, from Japanese gardens to midcentury modern design, I hone in on shared aesthetics and forms to create abstract imagery that looks both ancient and modern. I create geometric abstract paintings, relief sculptures, and assemblages that focus on the aesthetic characteristics of order and simplicity. Using encaustic paint heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, I build up layers of wax, then scrape them down, and burnish the surface to a glossy finish. I compose repeated shapes found in classical architecture (e.g., the Roman arch) and etch inside the shapes with clean and simple lines to create the appearance of tile work. The pattern-making and repetition flow out of my deep appreciation for order, which is one of the defining characteristics of beauty and the transcendent across different cultures and across time.I make artwork to find my own place in history and to connect to something greater than myself. While much of the modern world focuses solely on the present and something that can be seen, I try to create space for an expansive vision that transcends time and gives shape to what is unseen.” Marissa Voytenko (b. 1978, Woodland, California) explores the relationship between the physical world and spiritual one through the use of geometric shapes found in architecture. Her encaustic paintings and relief works investigate the lives of historical religious figures, ancient and classical architecture, and personal story. Voytenko earned her BA in Art from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California and an MFA in Studio Teaching at Boston University, Boston, MA. The artist has exhibited with the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (Chicago), the Dow Museum of Science and Art (Midland, MI) and the Primus Gallery (L'viv, Ukraine). Her work has been featured on the cover of the American Psychologist (2017, 2022) and highlighted in Luxe magazine (2024). Voytenko currently lives and works in Kalamazoo, Michigan.