My paintings are a tactile exploration of materials, textures, and the stories they tell. I aim to capture the interplay of objects—how their context, whether through shadows, reflections, or pairings, shapes our perception beyond mere form or silhouette. Inspired by my childhood in a creative Moscow household, surrounded by my parents’ artistic tools—paints, brushes, and celluloid—and their discussions of art, I developed a deep appreciation for the narrative potential of objects. This was further enriched by my mother’s archaeological expeditions, where I sketched ancient artefacts, learning to see the material world as a bridge to past lives and cultures.
My career in film production design, spanning over three decades, honed my ability to weave aesthetics and textures into storytelling. In my projects materials like rubber, rusted iron, and kraft-wrapped parcels inspired new visual languages. These experiences inform my paintings, where each canvas becomes a frame in a personal narrative, reflecting themes of memory, transience, and the beauty of the discarded, as in my triptych ‘Trash’, which meditates on the weight and beauty of accumulated, seemingly useless objects.
While oil on canvas remains my primary medium for its versatility and alignment with my temperament, reflecting the classical European and Eastern traditions instilled by my artist parents, I have recently embraced acrylics on wood panels. This shift allows me to explore new textures and a more disciplined, layered approach, inspired by icon painting, though it challenges me with its faster drying time. Working in my Palanga studio, often in collaboration with my son, I draw inspiration from the Baltic’s restrained palette and the materiality of found objects, sourced from flea markets and antique shops. My process balances meticulous detail with emotional spontaneity, using techniques like glazing and delicate brushwork to evoke depth, while always striving to convey a story that feels both personal and universal.