Veronica Gritsenko founded Black Elephant lacquer workshop in Bagan, Myanmar(Burma), in 2000. Although she had always been interested in art history and painting her career has begun as a scientist in Academy of Science in Kiev, Ukraine, after earning MS degree in physics from Kiev State Polytechnic University.

After 7 years of research into materials science and technology, she set up a small studio Kiev, teaching children painting and sculpting. She also has become an art dealer and later after moving to London in 1990 she has established her fashion business. She first came across Myanmar culture in London having met a Buddhist monk in 1995. She then visited Myanmar with him and fell in love with this extraordinary and beautiful country, which encouraged her to undertake further study.

She went to study Asian Arts at Sotheby’s Institute and later earned her MA degree in Indian Art from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her dedication to reviving the Bagan Lacquer has led her to a development her own unique technique based on ancient methods and materials. In 2007 Veronica established an institute to help preserve Burmese lacquer art for future generations.

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