Andreina, Nataliya, Rochi and Guigui opening night
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Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Nataliya
Nataliya Nikolenko is a 22-year-old Ukrainian artist. Since birth, Nataliya has had limited use of all her extremities due to a birth defect known as arthrogryposis. Until recently, and because of the severity of her disease, she had never been able to sit, and would move around on her stomach on a homemade pulley cart that she maneuvered with her torso. On December of 2007, thanks to Dr. Hari Parvataneni of the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, the generosity of the South Florida community, and the assistance of the International Kid’s Fund of the Jackson Foundation, Nataliya underwent extensive bilateral hip surgery to correct the birth deformity, and is now able to sit in a wheelchair for the first time in her life.
Nataliya is an extraordinary person that has not allowed her physical impediment to limit her potential At the age of 16; she learned to paint, by holding a paint brush with her teeth to create detailed artwork of floral patterns found in her native country. In March of 2007 Nataliya was awarded by the First Lady of Ukraine, Katerina Yushenko, the Moral Courage Medal during a nationally televised award ceremony in Ukraine. Nataliya’s life-long dream was to be able to sit so she could live independently, and earn a living from her magnificent artwork.
Prior to Nataliya’s surgery, and during her two-month rehabilitation, she continued to work extensively to complete the pieces that were exhibited at SIGNATURE ART GALLERY February 2nd, 2008 with great success.
