An Inspired Chat with Ivanna Demianiuk of New York

We recently had the chance to connect with Ivanna Demianiuk and have shared our conversation below.

Ivanna, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What battle are you avoiding?
My biggest battle lately has been with myself.
Over the past year, I’ve started noticing things about me I hadn’t really paid attention to before – not flaws, but small patterns I’d like to shift. How I react, how I connect with people, how I show up in relationships.
I’m grateful I’ve reached a place where I can actually see those things, because awareness is powerful. But the hardest part isn’t recognizing them – it’s doing something about it. You have to accept who you are first, and only then decide what you’re ready to change.
Our minds cling to what’s familiar, even when it no longer serves us. And sometimes, the hardest thing is letting go of those old habits that keep you comfortable but small. I know I’m ready for the next version of myself — I’m just gathering the courage to leap.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an artist – but more than that, I’m a storyteller of feminine strength and inner transformation. My work explores the quiet tension between light and shadow, the beauty and chaos that coexist within every woman.
The characters in my paintings – my girls, as I like to call them – are never perfect. They’re often raw, disproportionate, sometimes even unsettling. But to me, that’s where their power lies. Each of them carries a story, an emotion, a truth that resists perfection yet feels deeply human.
I’ve never wanted to be the kind of artist who’s known for one recognizable style. I’m constantly evolving, experimenting, creating not just paintings but also art objects and pieces for the home. I love the idea of people surrounding themselves with art – not as decoration, but as something that speaks to who they are.
Right now, I’m working on expanding that vision – giving people the chance to find a piece that feels personal, that becomes part of their world. Because I believe art should live with us, breathe with us, and remind us of our own strength.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was little, I truly believed that everyone else was somehow better than me. I grew up in an ordinary family, the kind where comparisons were a form of motivation. My parents did it with love, thinking it would push me to do more – but instead, it planted a quiet doubt that followed me for years.
That belief – that others were always ahead, smarter, more talented, more deserving – became part of my inner voice. Even now, after so many achievements, I sometimes catch that echo. But these days, I know how to silence it. I remind myself of what I’ve built, what I’ve learned, and what I’ve become.
And there was another belief – that I was shy. People said it so often that I started to perform it, to live it. But over time, I realized that shyness wasn’t my essence – it was just a reflection of how others saw me. I’m still gentle, yes, but I’m not afraid anymore.
Growing up, I stopped believing that I needed to be like anyone else. I started believing that being me was already enough.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I’d say two fears, almost opposite, that have traveled with me through life: the fear of the unknown, and the fear of not having enough time to do everything I want.
I’ve always been a naturally anxious person, and the unknown used to feel terrifying. Ironically, though, anxiety often equips you to handle uncertainty better than most. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that the unknown is inevitable, and it’s not something to fear – it’s something to be ready for, to embrace.
The second fear – the fear of not accomplishing everything I dream of – comes from having a mind that’s always overflowing with ideas, plans, and desires. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, this feeling that life might not be long enough to bring all those visions to life.
But the key is to move at your own pace, step into the unknown, and trust that the universe will open the doors you need along the way.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. There are definitely parts of me that show up in public – patterns of behavior that are authentically me – but for the most part, the public version of myself is different from my private self.
In public, I might appear more confident, but I’m actually less chatty. Around close friends and family, I can be talkative, playful, open. With strangers, I tend to be more reserved, a little distant. I wouldn’t say I’m a different person, but I’m also not exactly the same as when I’m alone or with those I trust.
The public version requires a certain polish, a way of presenting yourself that fits the occasion. It’s still me, just framed in a way that suits the world I’m stepping into at that moment.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes. But I think this is a challenge many people face today. With social media, we constantly see images of beautiful lives, things we “should” want, and it’s easy to convince ourselves that these are our true desires. We believe that having them will make us feel better, or give us status.
In reality, most of the time these desires aren’t truly ours – they’re influenced by what we see and admire in others. I’ve fallen into this trap more than once, and probably will again. But it’s so important to listen to yourself, to recognize your own feelings and real desires, rather than those unconsciously imposed by images of strangers’ lives.
In today’s world, it’s easy to lose touch with who we really are and what we genuinely want. Trends and public opinion can pull us in every direction, but staying aware of yourself – and your own path – is the only way to find real fulfillment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danavi.info
• Instagram: ivanademiani
• Youtube: dannaviart