Biography

Born in the Soviet Union into an Ingrian-Finnish and Russian-Jewish family, I find that there are several layers to my immigrant story-experiences, that are pivotal to my work. Like most of us, I navigate multiple planes of identity. Ingrian Finns-indigenous to the St. Petersburg area, were persecuted in the USSR. My Ingrian family was evacuated to Finland by Germans during World War II. Most Finns were deceptively lured back to Soviet Union, then imprisoned or sent to work/death camps, including my grandparents.  The remaining Ingrians are at a cusp of being forgotten, but their stories, and even pieces of clothing, have become part of my work. In the 1970’s, our family was among first “refuseniks” to leave the Soviet Union to Israel. From an early age I studied art while surrounded by the magnificence of the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad. Later, in choosing the Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC, I once again was enveloped by a wonderful museum environment. The 1980’s were ideal years to learn and be exposed to new ways of creating. Artist like Robert Longo, Sherrie Levine, Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, were among an array of visiting artist who came to the Corcoran. While on a scholarship to Paris, I apprenticed with photographer H.C. Bresson, and in the late 80’s attended the Skowhegan school. Agnes Martin and Joseph Campbell were enriching visiting lecturers. Without these lived and cultural experience, my artistry would not be what it is today.