Anita Zotkina

I was born in Odessa, near the Black Sea, and began drawing as a child. Art has always been part of how I understand the world – through observation, imagination, and emotional response.

My earlier work was darker, shaped by personal challenges and a need to make sense of difficult emotions. After moving to the United States and building a more stable life, my work gradually shifted. I now work as a financial professional at a large university, which allows me to support myself while continuing to make art without external pressure.

I work mostly in oil, and occasionally in ink, watercolor, or mixed media, depending on the subject. Over time, I’ve developed a recognizable style that combines surreal imagery with quiet symbolism – I call this approach Softique. It’s a gentle, introspective way of painting that blends memory, emotion, and imagination.

My paintings often include imagined women, animals, and dreamlike landscapes – not as direct representations, but as reflections of inner life or emotional states.

My color palette leans toward soft, muted tones – cool blues, purples, and greens – balanced with warm accents like coral, rose, or gold. I build contrast through subtle shifts in tone and texture rather than sharp lines....

1 year at Odessa Art school
Mostly self-taught

2026 - LALUZAPALOOZA, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2026 - Many Paths, Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA
2026 - Curiouser and Curiouser, Hopkinton Art Center, Hopkinton, MA
2025 VIBES - An Online Exclusive from the Artist Members of Fountain Street, Boston, MA
2025 After Dark - Juried Virtual Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art (MFA), Circle Gallery
2025 - November - The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn NY
2025 - Boston Children’s Hospital Art Program (donation), Boston, MA
2025 - Everything but the kitchen sink, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2025 - NAWA's 136th Annual Members Exhibition, Leonovich Gallery, New York, NY
2024 - NAWA MA Self-Awareness and Love, Wedeman Gallery, The Yamawaki Art & Cultural Center, Lasell University, Newton, MA
2024 - NAWA Life's Journey, Flushing Bank, Brooklyn, NY
2024 - NAWA Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories, Vanda Gallery, New Rochelle, NY 10801
2024 - NAWA's 135th Annual Members Exhibition
2023 Boston Arts Festival, Seaport, Boston, MA
2023 - 'Nothing Permanent' Dartmouth Cultural Center, South Dartmouth, MA
2023 - 'Dance with Orange' URI Providence Campus Gallery in collaborative partnership with the URI Providence Campus Arts and Culture Program, Providence...