Photo by Helena Raju
Ekaterina Popova is an acclaimed artist born in Russia, globally recognized for her contemporary oil paintings of interiors and landscapes. With a Bachelor's in Fine Art from Kutztown University earned in 2011, Ekaterina has since been showcasing her work on an international scale, solidifying her place in the global art community.
Her explorations of mood, emotion, and themes of home and belonging are influenced by post-impressionism, fauvism, and magical realism. These influences have guided her decade-long examination of home, place, and identity.
Internationally exhibited, her work graces galleries from Cohle Gallery in Paris and Menorca to The Painting Center in New York, along with James Oliver Gallery, Decorazon Gallery, Affordable Art Fair, Art Miami Fairs, The Trenton City Museum, Paradigm Gallery, Delaware Contemporary, The Boxheart Gallery, A.I.R. Gallery, and more.
Her art and journey have been highlighted in numerous blogs and publications, earning features in Colossal, Beautiful Bizarre, American Art Collector, The Jealous Curator, DPI Magazine, Friend of The Artist, Iceview, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Popova attended residencies at Centre Pompadour in Abbeville, France, NES Residency in Iceland, and the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Greece.
Her studio is located at 1241 Carpenter Street Studios in Philadelphia. She is also the founder of Create! Magazine, Art Queens and the host of Art & Cocktails Podcast. She co-authored two books, The Complete Smartist Guide and The Creative Business Handbook.
Artist Statement
My work explores identity and belonging through the painting of interiors and landscapes, inspired by my experience as an immigrant and driven by a desire to create safe spaces for myself and others. I use my painted images as vessels to navigate my love of light and color. In my early days, I was captivated by interiors, a fascination that continues on in my work. This interest in domestic spaces started as a way for me to reflect on my upbringing in Russia, but it eventually expanded to the exploration of the overarching concept of “home” and what it signifies to me now. As an immigrant, the question of belonging profoundly affected me, guiding me to create paintings that have enabled connections with people worldwide, united in our pursuit to feel safe and welcome.
Inspired by the Fauvists, Peter Doig, Bonnard, and the fresh Impressionists, I am deeply interested in the way art can transform our emotions. Within my works, you can glimpse images of my home, moments captured while traveling, and my unending explorations of nature – humanity's true home. I hone in on the subtle tones, lighting, and mood of each location to capture the emotions I associate with the space, amplifying the colors to craft a dream-like image.