Daria Em

I have been painting animals my whole life — not only to capture their beauty, but to send a metaphorical message.

Wolves keep returning in my work. I find that the wolf is the closest metaphor for depicting a human being — and I most often paint myself in the form of one. The images of canines and other animal figures hold instinct, memory, and projection, and often relate to emotional states.

In 2024–2025, after a long artist block, I developed a more structured way of working. I made a series of architectural paintings based on urban environments, often connected to London, using clear geometric forms and evenly applied paint. I also brought this visual language into my animal paintings so the works could exist within one system.
That period gave me focus and a clear framework.

My current work is moving toward a more open and intuitive process. The images are less defined in advance, and the material plays a more active role in how they develop.
This way of working feels closer to my natural rhythm. I have come to understand that painting needs space for freedom and imperfection in order to reach deeper psychological meaning.

King's College London — MA Art & Cultural Management, 2020–2021

UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts — BA Fine Art: Painting, 2017–2020

UAL: Camberwell College of Arts — Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, 2016–2017