Under the Stars

Natalya Klimova was born in 1991 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod.

From 2006 to 2011, Natalya attended Nizhny Novgorod Art College, which she completed and received the praise of the Board of the State Attestation Commission for graduation work.

From 2012 to 2018 – study at the Saint-Petersburg State Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, named after, I.E. Repin. She received a diploma with honours with a top grade for the graduation work “The Medieval Theatre”.

From 2014 to 2018 – study at the studio of monumental painting under the guidance of Professor S.N. Repin.

Permanent participant in the city, all-Russian and international collective and solo exhibitions. Works are in private collections of Russia, USA, Austria, Spain, China, Great Britain, Turkey, Australia, Canada and Finland.

Since 2006, Natalya Klimova has been a permanent member of the city and regional exhibitions: “Autumn Vernissage”, “January Holidays”, Nizhny Novgorod.

2010 – All-Russian art exhibition “The Young Artists of Russia”.

Since 2014, she has been a permanent member of exhibitions of the Union of Artists of Saint Petersburg, “Petersburg’s Youth”.

From 2014 to 2017 – I participated in exhibitions in Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Suzhou, and Shandong, China.

2015 – solo exhibition in the gallery “Obrisovka” (Portrayal), eco-loft More Place, Saint Petersburg.

2016 and 2017 – Participated in the exhibition “Artists of Russia for clean water” in Sochi.
2016 – solo exhibition in the art gallery “Neva” in Chengdu, China.
2017 – exhibition “Colors of Russia” in Chengdu, China.
2017 – exhibition “One Belt – One Road” in Expo Center of Dunhuang, Gansu province, China.

2018 – exhibition in the Art Seven Museum in Changzhou, China.

2019 – solo exhibition «Reflections» at the Museum of Modern Art «ARTMUZA».

Natalia Klimova — is an artist who prefers to paint your soul, not a portrait.

For me, art is life. Many artists would probably answer so. But it’s true. Art is entirely my world. I never even imagined that I could do something else or be someone else. It could not be otherwise. I was painting only. Absolutely and unconditionally.

I don’t set any particular goals when I come to the workshop in the morning. I don’t think if I want to change the world or not. I’m about to express my feelings and experiences on canvas—the most sincere and intimate. And then, when people see my paintings, everyone finds something of their own. An earnest man, a general, came to my exhibition not so long ago. He saw one of my girls, my paintings, and said something that turned my world upside down. He said: “You know, this girl in your picture reflects my entire inner world right now». It was shocking and pleasant. Usually, women and girls admire my paintings. They say, oh, what a dress you drew. I want to buy the same one for myself. Later they begin to look at the painting thoughtfully, delve into it, and search for hidden meaning.

The main characters of my paintings are women. That’s why it seems to me that my works are closer and more understandable to a female audience. I don’t paint portraits or specific people. I always try to capture a state of mind, an elusive sensation. Still, some women say that they recognize themselves on canvases. I always create an image of the future painting in my head, not using any references or photos. And it’s so pleasant when someone sees their reflection on my canvases. It means my paintings are in tune with vivid life.

Girls and their souls, their thoughts and emotions. I often use the illusion of a picture in a picture. Sometimes, I encrypt the plots of legends or old fairy tales in my works. There is a whole universe to feel, experience and look at each canvas. And the more you look, the more new meanings you find. It captivates me. I hope it is attractive to my viewers too. However, I never aim at illustrating a legend or a fairy tale. I only try to embody some specific motives that inspire me the most.

All my works are inspired by music. When painting, I always listen to folk. My absolute favourite is the «Melnitsa» folk group. I can listen to this music endlessly. Surprisingly, it is also deeply connected with medieval legends and traditions. When it sounds in my head, I catch the right wave, a sound vibration that stimulates creativity and imagination.

Sometimes I direct the eyes of my heroines on viewers. I do it on purpose. When you are in a crowd, and someone is staring at you, you will feel it and look back. That’s how it works with my paintings. You can’t resist looking directly into their eyes. The eye-contact is essential. It’s like a conversation without words. Sometimes, on the contrary, I paint my girls with closed eyes or looking away. In such works, I focus on details, on a story. You can never see any vivid emotions on the faces of my heroines. They are hidden, mysterious, and focused on themselves. It seems essential as, in our life, we usually experience the most intimate things with our eyes closed, immersed in our world where we don’t need to wear masks. Someone says that my girls are sad, but for me, they are rather thoughtful and self-absorbed.

Painting makes me work on myself non-stop. It also requires the ability to hear and feel the world around. Everything surrounding us can be a pure inspiration; you must catch it and reflect it on canvas. But sometimes, I deliberately try not to read newspapers and not to let negative information into my mind. I lock myself in my world. Maybe that’s why the characters of my paintings are so calm and full of harmony. Let’s hope the same connection is within me.

I’ve always loved painting. All the wallpapers in my parents’ house were covered with my childish pictures and every tiny piece of paper. Then there were all sorts of art and painting classes, an art school, Nizhny Novgorod art school, where my ultimate desire to be an artist was born. Although at one point, I even thought of a career as a scientist because I was engaged in mathematics. But then I realized that painting is much more than just a hobby. It is my way of sensing the world and experiencing life itself.

I dream that people will be kinder and more tolerant of each other and the world. It is the root of the root. If we manage it, humanity will be fine.