We were lucky to catch up with Michael Levchenko recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work — but it wasn’t an overnight success. It was a long and often unpredictable journey that combined perseverance, adaptation, and strategic positioning.

I started my path in Ukraine as a classically trained sculptor and painter, completing a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture. My early career was devoted to public and monumental sculpture — over time, I completed 50+ public art projects in 22 countries. That international experience helped build credibility and connections, but the financial side remained inconsistent, especially in the early years.
What changed everything was a shift in mindset: I stopped waiting for institutions to “discover” me and started building my own ecosystem. I began directly approaching developers, municipalities, and cultural institutions with proposals. I also diversified: besides stone and bronze, I embraced 3D design, metal fabrication, and digital tools like ZBrush. This allowed me to offer everything from monumental sculpture to collectible figurines, architectural elements, and even digital assets.
When I moved to New York in 2023, I had to rebuild from scratch. I took freelance jobs, collaborated with restoration firms, and gradually introduced my work to local curators and public art programs. In parallel, I maintained a strong online presence and continued applying for residencies and grants. It took time, but now my practice includes commissioned sculpture, freelance digital sculpting, and painting — enough to support myself entirely through art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Michael Levchenko. I’m a sculptor, painter, and digital artist originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, now based in New York City. My journey in the arts began over 25 years ago, rooted in classical sculpture and academic training — I hold a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. Over the decades, I’ve evolved into a multidisciplinary artist working across stone, metal, digital 3D sculpting, and large-scale public art.
My creative practice lives at the intersection of timeless materiality and contemporary vision. I’ve completed over 50 public art projects in 22 countries, ranging from monumental stone carvings to stainless steel and polychrome metal sculptures for urban parks, memorials, and architectural environments.
In the U.S., I now offer custom sculpture (monumental and gallery-scale), painting, digital sculpting in ZBrush for collectibles and prototyping, and architectural art elements. I also work in restoration, conservation, and design consulting — often bridging traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge 3D technologies. My clients include public art organizations, developers, cultural institutions, and private collectors.
What sets my work apart is the synthesis of deep material knowledge and symbolic clarity. Every piece I create is meant to evoke both emotional and intellectual response — whether it’s a figurative marble relief, an abstract metal form, or a digitally sculpted bust for 3D print. I don’t follow trends — I seek to shape meaning.
My mission has always been to bring permanence to human stories through form. I believe that art in public spaces, homes, and cultural settings has the power to influence how we see ourselves and each other. I also value collaboration — I’ve worked with architects, curators, engineers, and city planners to integrate art into landscapes and communities.
I’m proud that my work has been exhibited from Kyiv to Luxembourg, from Canada to New York, and included in museum collections and cultural landmarks. But I’m equally proud of my recent resilience — after relocating to NYC and recovering from a major foot surgery, I’m rebuilding my studio and business from the ground up.
What I’d like potential clients and collectors to know is: I bring not just skill, but vision and reliability. Whether you need a site-specific public sculpture, a high-quality ZBrush sculpt for production, or a timeless portrait in stone — I can deliver it with precision, creativity, and respect for the context.
My brand is about merging the enduring with the contemporary — and helping others leave a lasting mark through art.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2022, I was forced to leave Ukraine because of the war. I rebuilt my artistic life from zero in Luxembourg, holding a solo exhibition at Simoncini Gallery within months. In 2023, I moved again—this time to New York City—with no studio, no support system, and still recovering from foot surgery. I took a part-time job at a sculpture startup and simultaneously launched my own studio, working with traditional materials and advanced technology like 3D printing and digital sculpting.
Despite the difficulties, I created a new public sculpture, Post-Tango, now on view in Morningside Park as part of the Harlem Sculpture Gardens exhibition (2024–2025). That project, produced under intense physical and emotional pressure, became a symbol of personal and artistic survival. My resilience lies not only in starting over twice in two years, but in doing so with public visibility and integrity—turning crisis into creation.
Recent press about my NYC work:
🔗 Fine Art Shippers – Artist Talk: Michael Levchenko
🔗 Fine Art Shippers – NYC Abstract Sculptor Profile
🔗 Art Daily – Sculpture in Harlem
🔗 City Life Org – Harlem Garden Sculpture Project

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my opinion, society itself cannot instantly “do” something—because this challenge lies deeper, in the cultural education and values we pass on. Art and culture are not secondary to economics; they are the foundation of a society’s long-term identity, resilience, and even prosperity. Look at Italy: after 2,000 years of investing in its cultural legacy, its main economic engine today is tourism—built on art, architecture, and beauty.
We must understand that culture is also quality of life. It’s not just about functionality—it’s about beauty, spirit, and imagination. We surround ourselves with beautiful objects and clothes, but we must also nurture a beautiful inner and social world. Aesthetics and spirituality elevate our existence beyond survival into meaningful living.
To build a thriving creative ecosystem, we need a long-term vision: invest in art education, public art, artist residencies, and cross-disciplinary innovation. But perhaps it’s also on us, the artists, to speak louder—to educate, engage, and remind society of why creators matter. When artists help society feel something deeper, society will begin to invest more in the people who make that possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://levchenko.com.ua/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.levchenko.sculpture/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.levchenko.sculpture
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FPivayPTqA

Image Credits

photos by Michael Levchenko