It's me, Zarina

My journey began at four years old with a linear drawing of a crooked house. That A+ was my first taste of the magic that happens when hand meets paper.

Though my path to a professional career was initially denied by circumstance and financial hurdles, the enchantment never left me.

I spent years in museums, watching artists work, knowing that my own story was waiting to be written. At nineteen, I chose to stop watching and start creating.

The Vision: A Pursuit of Light

I have always been a seeker of light. If I were a creature of the wild, I would be the one endlessly drawn to the glow of a glass bulb – obsessed with the seamless transitions of temperature, value, and warmth.

For me, painting is not just about the subject; it is about the way light travels across a surface, blurring the lines between the seen and the felt.

The New Chapter

In 2022, my life took a profound turn. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, I made the decision to leave my home in Moscow. I relocated to the United Kingdom under a Global Talent Visa – a transition that was as much about finding a safe place to create as it was about aligning my life with my values.

Today, I call Edinburgh home.

From the intricate anatomy of an eye to the fleeting rain of summer petals, my art is a celebration of hope, faith, and the unshakable persistence required to start again.

I combine traditional oil techniques with a contemporary lens, proving that every ending is simply the beginning of a more beautiful chapter.

CV | Exhibitions

  • – Summer 2019
    Fashion Week San Diego award
    ARC Salon 14

    – December 2019 – February 2020
    ARC SALON 14
    MEAM museum
    Barcelona, Spain

    – July 13 – 31, 2020
    Contemporary Realism
    Sotheby's
    New York, USA

    – March 8 – June 12, 2021
    Women Painting
    MEAM museum
    Barcelona, Spain

    – March 26 – April 17, 2022
    Lucid 2022
    Beinart Gallery
    Melbourne, Australia

  • – Summer 2019
    Finalist of the International Artist magazine
    ‘Favorite Subject’

    – May 15 – 16, 2021
    Art fair
    The Stein Studio
    Kyiv, Ukraine

    – May 23 – Jun 13, 2021
    Small Works
    Beinart Gallery
    Melbourne, Australia

    – August 14 – September 1, 2021
    The Art of Art
    Modern Eden Gallery
    San Francisco, USA

    – May 21 – June 12, 2022
    SOLO SHOW
    Holding on
    Beinart Gallery
    Melbourne, Australia

Bring a story home

I have several available original artworks ready for new homes. If you’d like to see the full catalogue or discuss a commission, I’m always happy to start a conversation.

Contact me