Yulia Pinkusevich, associate professor in the College of Arts, Media and Design, with a collage of her own paintings and historic photos. Photo by Ruby Wallau...
Yulia Pinkusevich, a 2012 MFA Art Practice alum and current associate professor at Northeastern University's College of Arts, Media and Design, explores themes of military conflict and its societal impacts, drawing from her personal experience fleeing Kharkiv, Ukraine, during the Soviet Union's collapse. Through paintings and installations, Pinkusevich examines the complex history and legacy of the Cold War. As a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow, she researched the history of aerial surveillance at the National Air and Space Museum, including the Dino Brugioni Collection as well as archives of imagery produced for satellite reconnaissance programs such as ARGON and HEXAGON from the 1960s through the 1980s. This research serves as the foundation for her ongoing project, which challenges viewers to engage critically with the human costs of war.