Artist Statement:
In my work I explore the spiritual relation between humans and animals. I take myths and legends of indigenous people as the starting points for my research, for I believe that it was the way our ancestors saved their knowledge for future generations. Currently, my research centers around lion symbolism, and history of indigenous groups on the African continent. I realized that in school and in the university they never teach us about the history and the belief systems of the nations below Egypt. Over time, my works became an archive of information that the majority of us in Western society, including myself, are deprived of.
Apart from this, I am inspired by the main concept of quantum physics, which states that everything is made out of energy that constantly keeps moving. Four years ago, I started painting in oil the separate, moving, wave-like sections of color that compose a painting, but still exist on their own. They represent that constantly moving force of life that is around and within us.
I was born in Kurgan, Russia in 1996. I was trained in traditional ways of painting and drawing in Arkhangelsk Art Academy “Rapsodiya” in Moscow, where I graduated from with Outstanding Achievements in 2010. In 2018, I received my BFA in Fine Art from Parsons, The New School. During my junior year in college, I had my first solo art show in New York, after which I was commissioned to make 3 large paintings for a private client. Recently, my work was exhibited at the Art Hearts Fashion Show in New York, Nude Nite Art Show, in the group show, "Writing on the Walls" in Miami.
Education:
2018 - BFA in Fine Art, Parsons, The New School.
2010 - Certificate, Arkhangelsk Art Academy “Rapsodiya”
Awards & Distinctions:
2012 - Congressional Art Competition, represented District 19.
Exhibitions:
Group Exhibitions
2019
Spectrum Miami, Booth 720
Court House Cultural Center, Stuart, FL
Writing on the Walls, presented by BlinkGroup Projects, Miami, FL
Nude Nite Art Show, Orlando, FL
ARISE, Fort Lauderdale, FL
2018
Art Hearts Fashion Show, presented by Six Summit Gallery, New York, NY
2017
Twist, Parsons The New School, New York, NY
BOS Salon Show, Space 776, Brooklyn, NY
Stay Strong Mexico, Auction, New York, NY
2016
Salon Show, Greenpoint Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2015
Coffee Festival, New York, NY
Salon Show, Greenpoint Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Parsons The New School, New York, NY
2012
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL, Congressional Art Winners Exhibition, U.S. Capitol Washington DC, United States
Solo Exhibitions
2017
Art of Irina PI, Beautique Lounge, June-July, 2017, New York, NY
Artistic Influences:
Back in high school, I was given a project. The goal of it was to literally copy the style of Chuck Close. The painting was great, and actually was bought by the woman whom I painted in it. Years past. I painted in more realistic way the whole time. But one night, I sat down with the picture of a lion, and created a piece where I depicted colors as separate, wave-like sections. That night I did not even think about Chuck Close, even though I admire him and his work! Since then, I kept painting in my own style. One year later, a person saw my painting in the exhibition and came up to me saying: "You are probably a daughter of Chuck Close." It stuck with me since then. I can say now that Chuck Close is my biggest inspiration, as an artist and as a person.
Artist Tags:
lion, animals, nature, contemporary, oil painting, oil on canvas
