Daria Startseva

"My art is about the here and now – a state of presence in which light, color, form and emotion become tangible."

I’m a contemporary artist and designer based in Zurich. I studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and originally come from a background in art direction and illustration. I’ve spent many years working in the field of graphic design.

My work combines figurative realism with a poetic sense of reduction. I’m drawn to fleeting moments, to being fully present, to the emotional space between thought and sensation, to the intimacy of being – and to the quiet resonance between image and viewer. When I paint, I’m less concerned with narrative and more with emotional atmosphere. My visual language is shaped by composition, light, and clarity – but also by intuition and emotion. I follow color – not only with my eyes, but with the feeling it evokes within me. What matters most to me is presence, the brushstrokes, textures, irregularities - these marks are expressions of personality and humanity. They allow the work to breathe – making it tangible, honest, vulnerable, and alive.

• 1999 - 2005 University of Applied Arts. Vienna, Austria. Grafik Design (Mag. art.)
• 2003 Aalto University of Arts, Design and Architecture. Helsinki, Finnland (Erasmus Semester)

2026
• Paris, France - "Art World Fair Paris", November 6th - 8th, Paris Expo

2025
• Zurich, Switzerland - „Affordable ART Market“ Group Exhibition, October 19th
• Madrid, Spain - „Vibration“ Group Exhibition, June 16th - July 15th, Monat Gallery
• Lucerne, Switzerland - „ArtdeSuisse" Group Exhibition, May 29th - June 1st, Kornschuette

2024
• Rome, Italy - "Rome International Art Fair", December 6th - 12th, Medina Art Gallery
• Zug, Switzerland, Group exhibition, November 1st - 30th, Thomson Gallery, digitally
• Paris, France - "Art Expo Paris", October 16th - 20th, Gallery Agnes Nord, digitally
• Zurich, Switzerland - "Swiss Art Week", October 10th - 19th, Gallery Calabro, digitally