Ammoniism: A New Genre in Contemporary Art Rooted in Deep Time
Ammoniism (pronounced with the stress on the second "o") is a new and captivating genre of art inspired by fossil shells and natural stones — a unique fusion of art and paleontology. As a subdiscipline of both fields, ammoniism encompasses painting, sculpture, drawing, applied arts, and object design featuring ammonites, nautiloids, and other prehistoric shells, along with minerals, nuggets, and fossilized formations.
The name derives from the ammonite, one of the most mysterious and symbolically charged fossils on Earth. These coiled, petrified shells are found around the globe to this day and continue to spark fascination across cultures.
What Are Ammonites?
Ammonites (or ammonoids, Ammonoidea) are an extinct subclass of cephalopods that lived from the Devonian to the Paleogene periods. They first appeared approximately 400 million years ago and became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous, alongside the dinosaurs.
Often referred to as time machines in stone, ammonites serve as powerful reminders of deep time, the spiral of life, and the constant flow of transformation. Their naturally coiled form echoes the geometry of nature itself — symbolizing evolution, movement, and sacred cycles. Across cultures, ammonites are seen as symbols of wisdom, change, and continuity. Historically, they have been passed down as protective charms and talismans.
The Founder of Ammoniism: Olga Shinkarenko
The creator and pioneer of this genre is Ukrainian artist and designer Olga Shinkarenko, who established her own brand in 2010, making ammonites the heart of her creative universe. Over the years, she has collected rare fossil specimens from across the globe, incorporating them into distinctive collections of jewelry, bags, belts, and even embroidery on outerwear.
In 2016, Olga painted her first oil-on-canvas ammonite work titled "Ammonite Zero". Since then, she has completed over 30 paintings of ammonites — all inspired by her private collection and painted from life. These works were presented in two solo exhibitions titled "The Magic of Ammonites" at the end of 2024, officially marking the emergence of ammoniism as a genre. With that, Olga became known as the first ammoniist — or as she calls herself, the “zero ammoniist.”
What Is an Ammoniist?
An ammoniist is an artist who paints, sculpts, or draws ammonites, nautiluses, and other fossil shells from the eras of dinosaurs and mammoths — translating prehistory into contemporary visual form.
Discover Ammoniism on Our Platform
We are proud to present works by Olga Shinkarenko on our platform — including her rare ammonite paintings. Step into a genre where art, science, and ancient time merge into one spiral of meaning.
https://werderart.com/collections/olha-shynkarenko