The Lake Diptych Painting

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1988, to a renowned cityscape painter, I was immersed in art from a young age, assisting in my mother's studio. I earned a BA in Graphic Arts and both an MA and PhD in Communication Studies and for many years worked as a professor of Design and Communications, while also creating visual identities and marketing campaigns for brands and personalities. Since moving to the U.S. in 2016, I have been experimenting with themes and materials in my art, and the research brought me to early Christian art — icons and frescoes with elements of gilding. I am fascinated with the textures of fresco painting and gold leaf: the combination of perfectly matte, eggshell-like stucco and the enchanting, flowy shine of gold leaf creates sensational timelessness. I also draw a lot of inspiration from contemporary art, specifically — the “infinity nets” of Yayoi Kusama, “white writing” of Mark Tobey, and “branching forms” of Ruth Asawa. Right now I am studying the concept of Time and its perception in different environments. In 2023 I created a style I call temporal psychoexpressionism. Using watercolors and a self-made spackling paste-based primer, I mimic the timeless allure of frescoes in my pieces, and then cover the surface with short brush or marker strokes, which I count in the process – the total count of strokes is often referenced in the title. I allow my hand to guide me and as a result, the patterns of the strokes are absolutely unique like human fingerprints. Each artwork embodies a memorable emotional moment tied to a specific location, usually referenced in its title as well. I often embellish the sides of my paintings with gold leaf, generating a radiant halo effect when exhibited. I work at my studio in Jersey City Arts District, coming in almost every day and often bring my 5 year old daughter with me. She is learning art making, just like I did with in my mom’s studio when I was her age. This fact for me is a confirmation that “Time is a flat circle” :)