I find pleasure in the act of looking.  I see images, and in these images, I see fragments or ideas, which I want to translate into a tapestry.  Seeking a balance between the conceptual and emotional,  as in life, one or the other will determine the  growth of the tapestry.  The symbollic expression reveals itself through color, line, texture, form, movement and the weight of the yarn.

And so, the process begins. An image lingers and then becomes joined to another; color is revealed as a force in life; music is interpreted as spirals or conflicting shapes; proportion of forms instructs order and composition. Meanwhile, a range of emotions is experienced as works are completed and others left undone.

I am enthralled by the world of sound, nature, clouds, water, and the city with its forgotten areas.  I try to absorb this awe into the creative process of weaving.  Tapestry has become my voice.

Lialia Kuchma was born in Pidhajchi, Ukraine and raised in Chicago, IL, amidst two dissonant cultures: Ukrainian traditions and Chicago reality. While growing up, creativity was always present in her life, and her family encouraged the study of art. She has worked in the disciplines of woodworking, ornamentation gold leaf application, printmaking, pottery, photography and calligraphy. 30 years ago, when she took a course in weaving, Lialia realized that tapestry was the most fulfilling medium for her.