Growing Up
by Iliana Sergeev
I am Iliana, a designer, public speaker, and artist based in Toronto, who has begun an intentional journey into the contemporary art world over the last few years. I am rooting my work in storytelling, humour, and the human condition, as I invite viewers into layered stories that connect on a personal level.
Currently, I am developing Growing Up - a parenting journey through mixed media. It is a growing collection that explores the chaotic, tender, and often humorous dimensions of motherhood, childhood, and community. Through conceptual and playful work, I reflect on the imperfect beauty of everyday moments, weaving together themes of memory, belonging, and creative exploration. My mixed media pieces span mediums from felt and plexiglass to infinity mirrors and toys, always inviting viewers to pause, smile, and reconnect with the universality of human experience.
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Birth Flower
DESCRIPTION: A mirrored mixed media piece that reflects the visceral and tender transformations of postpartum motherhood. Layered over a blooming flower—an image often used in psycho-birth practices to help women visualize and surrender to the birthing process—I wove in the words JOY, MESS, CHAOS, LOVE, PAIN to map the emotional terrain, letting them form texture, asymmetry, and rawness. The pacifier becomes both anchor and tension: a symbol of new life, dependency, and silence, set against a body that’s forever changed. Through transparent, discharge-like media and red tones reminiscent of birth, this work honours the beauty, the rupture, and the ever-evolving shape of a mother.
MATERIALS: mirror with acrylic, acrylic panel, permanent marker, pacifier
DIMENSIONS: 24” diameter
Foravr Aylouyoo
DESCRIPTION: In this peice recreates a message my young son once wrote — a tender, misspelled note that reads, “I love you forever, Mama and Papa.” Layered onto the outer glass in his original handwriting, the message appears cryptic until spoken aloud, revealing its emotional core. Inside the infinity box, toys are arranged following the Fibonacci sequence — a symbol of growth, connection, and the universal rhythms of life. This piece reflects on the quiet power of meeting children where they are. It explores how connection is built through shared moments of play, imagination, and joy.
MATERIALS: infinity box and various toys
DIMENSIONS: 8” x 8” x 4.75”
In Our Sorry, We Grow
DESCRIPTION: a layered plexiglass installation that reflects the humor, chaos, and tenderness of parenting while celebrating the imperfections of creative exploration. Inspired by my experiences as a parent and artist, this piece is a collaboration with my two young children, capturing the unfiltered joy and frustrations of our daily life.
MATERIAL: three 6mm layers of acrylic one with LED neon sign, stand offs
DIMENSIONS: art shown 26” x 26”
Minimalism Meets Reality
DESCRIPTION: This piece traces the journey from a calm, curated life—symbolized by soft, grey felt—to the beautiful chaos of parenthood. Duplo bricks enter quietly in neutral tones, reflecting the early illusion of control. As the years unfold, the colors multiply and the stories grow wilder. With the arrival of a second child, the cycle begins again. The final piece, a spinning Lego carousel, captures the whirlwind—joyful, messy, and always in motion.
MATERIAL: 0.75” felt strips, toy blocks and plastic toys
DIMENSIONS: 48” x 24”
Coordinates of Belonging
DESCRIPTION: This piece juxtaposes the past and present of Toronto's East End, utilizing a historical map to reflect the neighbourhood's ever-changing fabric during the early 20th century transformational period. The colourful toy blocks, which represent the growing social and cultural diversity, are positioned on the buildings and highlight the original sub-divided plots of land. A small heart piece marks our family home, helping children appreciate how the community has evolved while reinforcing their sense of belonging. The continuous addition of blocks by children mirrors the chaotic, ongoing evolution of the neighbourhood, where new colourful layers of history are constantly being built upon by new generations.
MATERIAL: 6mm clear acrylic, toy blocks, stand offs
DIMENSIONS: art shown 48’’ x 55’'
LOCATION: Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto (permanent collection)
Shows & Exhibitions
2025 (Nov) Private Exhibition - Wade Studio Loft
2025 (Sept) Northern Contemporary Gallery - Swash & Serif: Typographic Show
2025 (Mar) It’s Ok* Studios - Phantasia: Interactive Exhibit
2024 - present Michael Garron Hospital - Permanent Collection