Daria Gamulina

Growing up surrounded by my mother's retro fashion magazines – particularly those from the 80s and 90s – instilled in me a deep fascination with the visual language of style. I spent countless hours immersed in those pages, captivated by the bold colors, striking poses, and the aspirational worlds they depicted. This early fascination led me to cut out silhouettes and create my own fashion collages, foreshadowing my artistic journey.
Though my formal training began in Easel Graphics at the St. Petersburg Stieglitz Fine Arts Academy, I soon felt constrained by its limitations. My desire to explore the human form and its adornment drew me to costume design, a field that opened my eyes to the vast possibilities of contemporary art. Costume, installation, photography – all became part of my creative vocabulary.
Yet, painting has remained my constant companion. It is the medium through which I distill my experiences and observations, transforming them into evocative compositions. My background in fashion and costume design continues to inform my approach, as I deconstruct and reimagine the human figure, often isolating it within the canvas to emphasize form and gesture.
The vibrant colors, graphic shapes, and bold lines reminiscent of the 80s and 90s magazines of my youth infuse my paintings with a sense of playful energy and nostalgia. These elements, combined with my experience in film and theater, allow me to construct narratives within my work, inviting viewers to engage with their own memories and interpretations of beauty and style.
Having explored various avenues of artistic expression, I now dedicate myself fully to painting, where I find the freedom to delve deeper into the themes that resonate with me most: the passage of time, the construction of identity, and the enduring power of visual culture.