In the series Playing Cards, I deeply explore personal subjects that are rooted in my biography, the biography of my parents, ancestors, and reflections on the history of my nation. The Playing Cards series consists of fifty-two playing card designs, two jokers, the back, and one information card.
Thematically the cards are divided by the main subjects into the four suits: Spades, Clubs, Hearts, and Diamonds.
In my interpretation Spades represent the darkest realm revealing hardships of life and daily struggles of individuals in society. Originating predominantly from the sorrowful and tragic history of Russia, Spades provide an insight into the ugly underpinnings of my land of birth. Clubs stand for exploring religion. Hearts represent love. Diamonds reveal the light of hope, nature, and self-awareness.
Each card unfolds and expands on the larger subject of the suit it belongs to.
Cards are collage with gouache, watercolor, ink, and colored pencil on board and paper. Each card is 9″ x 12″.
Box Cover Design
Ace
Ace of Diamonds. The Guardian. | Collage, Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencils on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Ace of Clubs. Inveterate Cross: Sewed with One Thread. | Collage, Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencils on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Ace of Hearts. Red Light District Amsterdam, 6 o’clock. | Collage, Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencils on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Ace of Spades. Perspectives. | Collage, Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencils on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Two
Three
Three of Clubs. Damn That Land Where Roses Wither. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Three of Spades. Together to the Bright Future. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Three of Hearts. Companions. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Three of Diamonds. Comet Cubicles. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Four
Four of Diamonds. The Reel. Or I Didn’t Get the Part in That Movie. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Four of Spades. Advisors. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Four of Hearts. Night Shift. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Four of Clubs. Come with Us to the Land of Magic Beans. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Five
Five of Diamonds. Sought Happiness. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Five of Spades. Bad Ace. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Five of Hearts. The Blooming Dandelion. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Five of Clubs. First Male Encounter in a Mermaid Lagoon. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Six
Six of Spades. The Dawn. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Six of Hearts. One More Round, Please! | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Six of Diamonds. Leda and The Swan. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Six of Clubs. The Dream. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Seven
Seven of Spades. Puss, The Smoker. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Seven of Hearts. Oligarch’s Funeral. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Seven of Diamonds. Natural Causes. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Seven of Clubs. For Snake’s Sake. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Eight
Eight of Spades. Punch Me in a Gut! | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Eight of Hearts. Cursed Paradise. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Eight of Diamonds. Summer Birthday. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Eight of Clubs. Vologodskaya Region, Russia. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Nine
Nine of Diamonds. Supresión Del Toro Fálico. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Nine of Spades. Miracle Mike: Tears of a Beheaded Creature. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Nine of Hearts. Under the Ray of the Hot Spotlight. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Nine of Clubs. Yellow Knights Fighting Red Panthers. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Ten
Ten of Diamonds. I Will Guarantee Your Longevity. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Ten of Spades. The Demoness of the Broken Land. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Ten of Hearts. The Mail Order Bride. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Ten of Clubs. The Broken Window. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Jack
Jack of Spades. One-Eyed President. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Jack of Hearts. Barrancas del Cobre. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Jack of Diamonds. My Milky Way. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Jack of Clubs. Care for a Dance? | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova
Queen
Queen of Diamonds. The Pitaya Garden. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Queen of Hearts. The Abode of Temptations. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Queen of Clubs. The Vicious Cycle of Poisonous Interdependence. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Queen of Spades. The Reptile Queen. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
King
King of Clubs. The Patriarch. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
King of Spades. The Cradle of Hierarchy. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
King of Hearts. The Suicide King. | Gouache, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
King of Diamonds. The Passage of Time. | Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencils on Paper | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Joker
Joker. The Mastermind of Hearts and Diamonds. | Collage, Mixed Craft/Design Paper on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019 
Joker. Midnight Blues in the Theatre of Tired Angels. | Collage, Mixed Craft/Design Paper, Ink, Gouache on Board | 9” x 12” | © Yulia Kuznetsova 2019
Yulia Kuznetsova is a Russian-born, Chicago-based artist. She is a recipient of the merit scholarship and the Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Studio from the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Kuznetsova has had numerous art exhibitions in Chicago, IL., Seattle, WA., and Austin, TX. Her art has been featured in various media, such as the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Ambassador, and others. Yulia has also been present on various radio shows, namely, WGN Radio, iHeart Radio, and Broken English Podcast Radio. Kuznetsova is a member of HOAB (Homeless Online Art Bazaar), the charitable fundraising organization in support of homeless people in Chicago. Yulia is also a former volunteer at Intuit: The Museum of Intuitive Arts and a present volunteer at the Women Made Gallery in Chicago.
Check out her website and her Instagram account.