Natalia Menshenina

A figurative oil painter specializing in contemporary realism with impressionist handling, I focus on the psychological depth and cultural motifs of the Middle East and North Africa.
My recent works are nurtured under the guidance of a long-standing mentor whose career has been shaped under the patronage of Abu Dhabi’s culture at Al Qattara Arts Center. His vision of figurative art-recognized in exhibitions across the region and through works auctioned at Sotheby’s-has profoundly shaped my own. We share a belief that figurative painting remains one of the most eloquent vehicles for human expression, capable of bridging tradition with the modern world. By grounding my practice in this lineage, my work serves as a statement about the enduring power of classical refinement in contemporary art.

1999 Grekov Odessa Art School, Odessa, Ukraine

2003 Graphic Design Certificate, SAE, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2018 Land and Sea Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop with Matt Ryder, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

2018 "Old Masters" Oil Painting Technique with Ekaterina Zhivilova, Saint-Petersburg

2020 Postwar Abstract Painting, Coursera

2020 What Is Contemporary Art, Coursera

2020 Modern Art, Coursera

2021 "Therapeutic Art Life Coach Certification (Accredited)", Udemy

2021 How to paint from beginner to master, Udemy

2021 “Portrait likeness”, Akademika

2021 “Emotional portrait’, Akademika

2021 “Expressive drawing, Akademika

2021 Realistic Portrait with Graphite Pencil, Domestika

2021 Logo Design: From Concept to Presentation, Domestika

2021 The Modern and the Postmodern, Coursera

2021 Graphic Design, Coursera

2021 Healing with the Arts, Coursera

2022 Portrait Painting, Lotus institute, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2022 Sexing the Canvas: Art and Gender, Coursera

2024 Samsara Art Academy, Figurative

2025 Al Qattar Art Center

Eve| Muse Gallery, Lahore 2026
NCA Triennale 2025: "Kasb-e-Kamal-Kun" | National College of Arts, Lahore (2025) Exhibited works from the ballet series during the 150th-anniversary celebration of excellence.
​2020 August / Eastern Coast Nights
Group Exhibition , Miramar Al Aqah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

2019 June / Art Boutique Display
Group Exhibition - Mix of Modern; Classic, Media One
Dubai, United Arab Emirates