Artist Statement

My artistic process is chaotic; often, hours of creation are inspired by a song. Although it varies based on the materials I'm using and the subject matter, more often than not, it is messy; I mix several techniques and materials in each piece. Furthermore, I experimented with acrylic, watercolor, and oil pastels. My practice is intuitively driven and inspired by newfound knowledge, understanding of constant processes, and staying within the process rather than focusing on the end product.

I created my first themed body of work almost entirely in oil paint: the subject-Russian depression. As a Russian immigrant, Putin took away my home as he did with millions of others; he´s ruined the country and performed mental genocide on several generations of Russians. Not to mention the genocide he´s been attempting for the past years in Ukraine. I channeled the feelings of anger and doom into creating a body of work in protest. I chose oil paint because, as a medium, oil paint has dominated Russian art for centuries. I wanted to refer to that practice while portraying my feelings toward what has become of Russia under Putin's regime. At large, I was inspired by Oxxxymiron, a Russian hip-hop artist who challenges Putin's rule through his lyrics. Borderline violent music and profound lyrics pushed me to make my artwork more complex and look further into symbolism. The energy of his music made me question why I chose to focus on the defeating side of the situation. I then replaced dull colors with vibrance and tried to portray more movement. My process also started to involve a lot more research.

I don't set boundaries for myself in my style or choice of materials. Currently, I am working on public works, specifically murals, which pushes me to gain experience in spray painting and large-scale projects. In addition, I am expanding my palette as an artist and earning a new understanding of how the public views my work in passing, within its personal space. 

In the future, I want to focus on creating 3D work and further explore the digital world. I am interested in finding ways my art can contribute to social justice movements and create change.
I've sold several of my pieces and work on commission. My work has been exhibited in LCAD's exhibition Color It Orange, and the Sawdust festival. Laguna Beach High School is currently showing several of my paintings, and I just finished my first mural there while I'm working on designs for several others on the school's commission. Along with some other artists, I completed another mural for the Sawdust festival. More recently, my work was displayed by the Shafranski Art Foundation at Shit Art Club in LA. Lastly, I am a part of the Laguna Beach Art Youth Advisory Board, where I work with the city council to install art in our community, and I am also nominated for Art Student Of The Year in Orange County.