Bio

I was born in Moscow in 1989. Initially, I completed three years of studies to become a primary school teacher, but at the end of my studies I realized that this vocation would not offer me the development opportunities I sought. Against all and every advice, I decided to study art.

For two years, I attended courses at a small school of design and composition in order to prepare for the entrance exam to the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Glazunov — one of the most prestigious art institutions in Moscow. In 2010, I was admitted to the Department of Painting Restoration, and in 2011, I received an academy scholarship for the remainder of my studies.

I graduated in 2017 with one of the best diploma projects of my year, and in the following years I worked as an icon restorer in Moscow.

In contrast to museum restoration, antique icon restoration must remain invisible. The artwork should appear as if it has been preserved intact and has aged gracefully, without showing signs of damage. This requires deep knowledge and mastery of historical, especially medieval, painting and craft techniques, as well as the ability to reproduce artificial aging processes. It was essential to understand how grounds, glues, pigments, and varnishes were originally made and applied — and how to recreate and use them today with modern materials under contemporary conditions. Through this experience, I developed a love for natural materials such as egg tempera, oil paints, and watercolor, as well as for the painting techniques and craftsmanship of the old masters.

In 2020, I moved to Switzerland, where I decided to continue my artistic journey — this time as an artist. I began by working in a small sketchbook, making graphic studies in the forests of Allschwil (Basel-Landschaft). In 2022, my husband and I moved to the picturesque town of Thun in the canton of Bern to be closer to nature, and in 2023, I began exhibiting my work publicly. In the very first year, I was accepted as a participant in the prestigious Cantonale Berne Jura Exhibition 2023.

As an artist, I see my task in inventing a new visual language, finding fresh modes of expression, and exploring compelling compositional solutions. I believe that new ideas in art are still possible — and that the better an artist is acquainted with the visual tools and techniques developed before them, the greater the chance of discovering something truly new. When an artist masters traditional painting methods, they gain a solid foundation from which to rethink what has already been created — and to search for new directions in art without being distracted by the need to reinvent the wheel.

I work daily — including weekends — in my studio in Thun, Switzerland. My love of systematization and structure allows me to work efficiently and quickly. During my study trips to Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, I gathered inspiration, notes, and sketches for hundreds of artworks that are now eagerly waiting to be brought to life as finished pieces.