Penner Mariya

Biography

1995 — born in Moscow.

From childhood, she was surrounded by art: her first inspirations came from a book with reproductions of masterpieces by Old Masters, which she found in the family bookshelf. At the age of 9, she began painting on her own — she picked up a brush, oil paints, and a canvas for the first time, creating her earliest works under the influence of the classics. One of these early paintings is still kept as a precious memento of the beginning of her artistic journey.

During her school years, her passion for painting was noticed by her art teacher, whose support became the first sincere praise and an important incentive for her development. Later, the girl enrolled in a Children’s Art Studio, even though there were no available spots. She was invited to join after completing a trial assignment; the result impressed the teacher so much that he decided to replace one of the existing students.

For eight years at the studio, she mastered various techniques: life drawing, plein air painting, batik, sculpting, and decorative arts. But she fell especially in love with oil painting — a technique that would later become her primary artistic language.

After graduating from the studio, she chose a different professional path, but creativity never let her go. In college, she actively participated in art projects: she designed wall newspapers and took part in competitions. At the age of 16, she received her first commercial commission — a portrait that became a symbol of recognition for her skill.

Despite pursuing a career in another field, the inner call to painting remained strong. Gradually, she returned to art by taking professional online courses, which helped her systematize her knowledge and refine her skills. Painting ceased to be just a hobby — it became the center of her life.

Since 2025, she has been actively participating in exhibitions, both in Russia and internationally. She was awarded second place in the international animalistic art competition “The Pets” in the “Bird Kingdom” category for her work “Parrot Innokentiy.” This achievement opened the door to the Eurasian Art Union, which brings together leading artists of the region.

Since October 2025, her works have been displayed at prominent venues, including the Moscow Center for Contemporary Arts and the Art‑Kommuna Gallery, with the support of the Eurasian Art Union. She participated in Russian Art Week with the still life “Bouquet of Lilacs in a Vase.”

Today, her art is a synthesis of classical traditions and her personal vision. Oil remains her main medium, and each piece is part of an ongoing journey of an artist finding herself through art.

Artist Statement

Art for me is not just a profession, but a way of being.

My journey began with a child’s wonder at the masterpieces of the Old Masters. I didn’t just look at their paintings — I wanted to feel every brushstroke, to understand how light is born and how shadow “breathes.” At the age of 9, I picked up a brush for the first time, and from that moment on, painting became my language — quiet yet expressive, deep and sincere.

My choice of oil painting is not accidental. In it, I find something that cannot be conveyed in any other way: the texture of time, the temperament of the paint, the volume of feeling. Each work is a dialogue — with nature, with memory, with my inner self.

I paint what touches me: life studies, animals, moments of silence. In them, I see a beauty that is easy to overlook. A bird on a branch, a bouquet in a vase, a pet’s gaze — these are not just images, but symbols of life, filled with meaning.

My work “Parrot Innokentiy,” which won second place at the international exhibition “The Pets,” is not just a portrait. It is a story about personality, about character, about how even a small creature can hold an entire world within itself.

I believe that art should be alive, accessible, and honest. It doesn’t need grand statements — it speaks for itself.

Every canvas is a step forward. Returning to oil after years away from the brush was an act of faith in myself. And now I know: I am an artist. Not because I sell works or participate in exhibitions, but because I cannot help but paint.