Tanya Chapanova

I am an artist from Kalmykia, an indigenous region of southern Russia. My artistic practice is deeply rooted in the desire to preserve and popularize Kalmyk culture, which faces the threat of extinction. Since 2022, I have been based in Georgia, continuing my work in a new cultural environment that also inspires reflection on identity, memory, and displacement.

I often use symbolism and surrealism to create layered, emotionally charged narratives. The spaces in my paintings are deliberately airless and unreal, evoking the harsh natural conditions of the Kalmyk steppe and the historical sense of isolation experienced by my people—nomads who were once deeply connected to the vast landscapes of Central Asia.

Through my work, I explore themes of cultural survival, solitude, and transformation, inviting the viewer into a meditative and often melancholic visual world.

Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Design and Applied Arts, Russia
Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design
Studied at one of Russia’s most renowned art institutions, known for its strong traditions in academic drawing and graphic arts. Although trained in industrial design, I was particularly drawn to decorative painting and expressive visual storytelling, which ultimately shaped my artistic voice.