Through an interdisciplinary and multimedia lens, Hnatov’s work examines curiosities shaped by her upbringing and fascination with psychology, particularly as it relates to interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, identity, and personality. Working with oil and acrylic paint, found objects, graphite, pastels, textiles, and digitally, the artist’s creative process has led Hnatov to focus on the complex roles she navigates in society and within herself—her relationship with her childhood self, her place within various communities, and her dreams both during sleep as well as aspirations for the future. The use of bright, playful colors contrasted against darker themes allows Hnatov to examine difficult experiences in a cathartic way. She creates intuitively, allowing materials and images ranging from conceptual to representative guide the work and artist to a piece’s final place of resonance.
EDUCATION
2026 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
BA in Studio Art
BA in English and Comparative Literature, Concentration in Writing, Editing, and Digital Publishing
2026 Honors Carolina
highly competitive, four-year academic program enrolling 10% of each class
2021 North Carolina Governor’s School, Art Concentration
highly competitive, five-week academic program for gifted and talented students
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Art in Bloom, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
- Now All We Have is Here & There, John and June Allcott Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
- Showcase for Abstract Painting, John and June Hallway Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
2025 Art in Bloom, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2024 Art in Bloom, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2022 Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
2021 The Experience, High Point, NC
2019 Teens, Inspired, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
AWARDS
2022 Purchase Award, Arendell Parrott Academy, Kinston, NC
- 1st Place, Third District of North Carolina Congressional Art Competition
2021 3rd Place, Third District of North Carolina Congressional Art Competition
2019 Southern Teachers Agency Student Art Contest
TEACHING
2025 ArtsCamp Instructor, The ArtsCenter, Carrboro, NC
Courses: Color Theory, Mixed Media
2019-2025 Violin Teacher, Self-Employed, Greenville & Chapel Hill, NC
COMMISSIONS
2026 Pearl of the Valley, Chapel Hill, NC, Commissioned by Ben Bolling, The New Futurists
2024 Sanctuary, Chapel Hill, NC, Commissioned by The Tarpeggios
2023 Modern Ecstasy, Chapel Hill, NC, Commissioned by The Tarpeggios
- Home, Raleigh, NC
2022 Obelisk Award, Raleigh, NC, Commissioned by North Carolina Association of School
Administrators for the Metrographics Printing North Carolina Showcase
2020 Taryn, Kinston, NC
2018 100 Days, Kinston, NC, Commissioned by Arendell Parrott Academy