about me

I grew up in Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Picture taken during the 1980s in the USSR—a country that now exists only in memory. Socialism gifted me a free education and an abundance of extracurricular activities that were sponsored by the institutions where both my parents who were engineers, worked. I delved into four years of guitar classes, dabbled in drama studios, participated in various sports sections, and sang in a choir. Despite harbouring a deep desire to paint and draw, my parents, who deemed the competition to be too fierce, steered me away from specializing in art education during my school years.

Graduating from high school during the tumultuous 1990s in Moscow painted a different reality. It is challenging to accurately capture the essence of that era, as every day unfolded as a new adventure. Although I aspired to be an art historian, the practicality of this academic pursuit in the changing landscape became evident. My father, sensing the winds of change, gifted me an analog camera and my photographic journey began.

As the digital era emerged, the industry I had previously known metamorphosed. Transitioning from film to digital, photographers had to navigate a new and unfamiliar terrain. In the late 1990s, I worked as a freelancer for several prominent magazines like Cosmo, Vogue, and Playboy, capturing the vibrant spirit of the time. In 1998, my husband and I decided to embark on a new chapter by moving to Canada. We arrived in Toronto in March of 2001.

However, the rapidly advancing digital realm did not align with my passion for pure, tangible photography. I observed the industry as it was rapidly transforming, where new digital technologies demanded extensive Photoshop skills. Realizing that this was not the path I desired to traverse, I decided to step back to ponder what I should do next. I also needed to focus on my family which was growing at the time. 

In 2003, with a longing to pursue my childhood dream, I enrolled in an evening art class for adults in a neighbourhood school in Toronto. Today, my artistic journey is a testament to my development, rooted in a vibrant Soviet past that unfolded over the span of two decades in Canada. To this day I still travel with my camera and occasionally indulge in the nostalgic practice of taking analog Polaroids—a cherished link to my artistic foundation. My decision to veer away from a career in photography in Canada seamlessly led me to where I presently stand today—an artist inspired by a lifetime of experiences and a perpetual love for the craft.
Please follow my Instagram to see reels of my work in progress and my daily art practice.