BIO
I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. I was drawing, painting, and sculpting for as long as I can remember myself. When I was twelve years old, I began taking ceramics and oil painting classes. As time passed, I found myself doing less painting, and more and more ceramics – in retrospect, the three-dimensional art had a greater appeal. During my five years at St. Petersburg State University, getting a degree in Biochemistry, I did not have enough time for art. I started ceramics again when I moved to the US in 1994 to take a job at St. Louis University. When I took an evening jewelry class a few years later, I realized that I found my true medium - metal. Throughout the years, moving from state to state and from university to university, I took as many classes and workshops as I could - learning and improving my skills at fabrication, casting, chain making, stone setting, enameling, and other techniques. I love designing and making jewelry. I am one of those people who have to create - I have an internal drive to make beautiful things.