MARIE CLAIRE. APRIL 2026. WOMAN TO WATCH
Lifestytle
Mira Tsybukovska
Mira Tsybukovska is the driving force behind Mio Gallery. From her studio in Antwerp, she creates monumental paper installations and delicate flowers that blur the boundaries between art and design. Her story began years ago in Ukraine, where she made her first paper flowers—a passion that has since grown into an international practice. Today, she combines craftsmanship with entrepreneurship while building a life in Belgium and realizing increasingly ambitious projects in her studio.
Text: Kim De Craene
Mira is busy—it’s peak season for Mio Gallery.
“It feels like everyone is waking up from their winter sleep: suddenly everyone wants flowers. But I actually enjoy it when it’s this busy, especially when I get to do what I love. Even when things are quieter, there’s always something to do: keeping the website up to date, arranging appointments with suppliers, and following up with clients. With two teenage sons at home, life can sometimes be quite chaotic, but by now I’ve gotten used to that rhythm.”
Mio Gallery specializes in custom-made paper art for a wide range of applications. From eye-catching shop windows and exhibitions to photography, set design, props, fashion projects, and exclusive decorative pieces—each project is developed with care and craftsmanship. Mira and her husband Valerii’s studio has developed its own techniques and a recognizable style, with a strong focus on detail.
A special focus of Mio Gallery is paper flowers. Mira and Valerii began this art form ten years ago in Ukraine. Each flower is made with precision and passion, ensuring that no two pieces are identical. This uniqueness gives them a personal and almost poetic quality.
“The strength of paper art lies in its simplicity and tangibility. In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, paper offers something special: a physical experience. Every project invites people to look differently at materials and possibilities, and to discover how something as simple as paper can grow into something extraordinary.”
In Antwerp, a city known for its rich cultural and artistic scene, Mio Gallery and Mira’s family found the perfect home base. The city breathes creativity and innovation, which is also reflected in the studio’s work.
“Five years ago, my husband and our two sons moved here from Kyiv. It was actually by chance that we ended up in Antwerp—we came here for a meeting with a client. But as soon as I arrived, I felt something I had never felt anywhere else. It’s a small, calm, safe, and beautiful city. There was an atmosphere that immediately appealed to me.
When we returned to Kyiv, that feeling stayed with us. We started talking about it and eventually decided to take the leap. Not long after, we applied for a visa with the idea of starting a new chapter of our lives here. I often say that I’m probably the best ambassador for Antwerp, because I’m its biggest fan. Every day feels like I’m living in a kind of dream setting. The architecture, the atmosphere, the people—it constantly inspires me.”
Belgium also proved to be a great base for their business.
“It felt like everyone had been waiting for our flowers. The reactions were immediately enthusiastic, and assignments started coming in quickly. One of the first major projects we did here was for the luxury hotel Botanic Sanctuary. They asked us to create flowers up to four meters high—the largest we had ever made. It was a huge challenge, but also an important moment for our studio.”
After that, commissions followed from brands such as Sephora and Guerlain, and Mio’s creations appeared in several major magazines.
Still, not everything is easy.
“The biggest challenge remains the administrative side. Applying for residence permits and professional cards comes with a lot of uncertainty. We have to renew them every two years, and each time it’s a stressful period. But it doesn’t outweigh everything we’ve built here.
My motto is: everything will be fine. Whether it’s creating giant flowers or applying for visas, we always find a solution in the end.”
