Born in 1993, in Donetsk, Ukraine, Taras Tolstikov is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice investigates the tension between fragility and resilience, exploring dominant and invasive forces within both human and natural realms. His work engages with notions of time, memory, and recurrence, often addressing political and social realities shaped by displacement, conflict, and transformation. Through a critical lens, Tolstikov examines authoritarian and colonial systems and their impact on societies and local environments. His figurative works frequently embrace non-binary forms, challenging established social norms and perceptions of identity.

Tolstikov studied architecture at DonDABA and later graduated from KNUBA in Kyiv. In 2016, he relocated to Budapest, where he established his studio and began to focus fully on art. His first solo exhibition, Vándorló Experience (2017) at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Budapest, explored themes of displacement and belonging.