The Price of Being Seen

Volha Naruta-Johnson (b.1989 Belarus) based in California. Her practice explores the states of the modern woman. The tension between motherhood, ambition, and female identity, as well as rules, roles, and opinions. Drawing from personal and professional experience working with clients in psychology, she creates a space of recognition and support for women with similar experiences. She speaks for those who cannot speak for various reasons, reminding them: you are not alone. She began working at 13 and started traveling internationally at 17 as a UNESCO volunteer. In European Humanitarian University (Lithuania, Vilnius) she studied Art of Cultural Heritage. Between the ages of twenty and thirty she traveled the world as a singer, living in spiritual communities and studying art and cultures. After the birth of her daughter, visual art returned to the center of her life. Her artistic practice began with textured paintings. In May 2025 she participated in her first group exhibition in Northern California and continued exhibiting in local cultural events, including garden tours, studio tours, Honeycomb project and Banners on Parade. In March 2026 she opened her first solo exhibition of textured landscapes at the Atrium Gallery EDH, CA. At the end of 2025 Volha started working on the oil painting series “Being a Woman,” shifting toward figurative works that explore the inner tension between motherhood, independence, social expectations, and personal freedom. AWARDS 2026 Best of Show, Human Nature, Colors of Humanity Art Gallery 2025 Best Of Show, mixed media competition “sea and mountains’’. 2025 Second place, International Competition Golden Talent, UK. 2025 Honorable Mention Award , “14th ABSTRACT”, international Juried Art competition TERAVARNA 2025 Honorable Mention Award, 9 color, Juried Art competition TERAVARNA 2025 Honorable Mention Award , Landscapes, Juried Art competition TERAVARNA 2025 Sapphire Award, Blue competition, Gallery Ring 2025 Award of merit Award, Alive competition, Gallery Ring 2025 Honorable Mention Award, Alive competition, Gallery Ring BIBLIOGRAPHY 2026 Art and Woman 2026 Best Of Show, Artist Article , Human Nature, Colors of Humanity Art Gallery 09.2025 Spotlight Artist, Style Magazine, Jennifer Maragoni, p.24-25 2025 Interview Artist Close Up Magazine, Adele Kotze 2025 Catalogue of the group Exhibition “Wings” 2025 Honeycomb Project ( Featured in Volume 6)