The Third Eye, 2024

Maryana Salmina  

Mariana Salmina is a contemporary artist working at the intersection of realism and impressionism. In her work, she combines the precision of academic drawing with the emotional freedom of color. A graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Graphics at Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University and a member of the Union of Watercolorists of Siberia, her works are visual poetry of Russia's vast expanses, where horses most often take center stage.

Mariana's path began with an in-depth study of the academic school, which led her to master a wide variety of materials: from fluid watercolor to dense oil paint and pliable acrylic. Her education and regular practice helped her develop a recognizable style. Important milestones in her career have included solo exhibitions, participation in regional art residencies, and publications in thematic catalogs of contemporary art.

The artist creates her worlds through movement: her brush transfers her inner light directly onto the canvas. Her main subjects are born from impressions gathered during travels across Russia: the sea, mountains, boundless steppes, and horses. For her, horses embody pure energy and light, possessing wondrous properties from legends — the ability to fly and speak. They are depicted in motion or at rest, but always exist in harmony.

Mariana's art is rooted in the Russian landscape tradition. Her artistic language has been influenced by the boldness of French Impressionists, the monumentality of Pyotr Klodt's sculptures, and the epic power of 19th-century Russian artists.

She has participated in more than ten solo and numerous group exhibitions (2020–2026), including «A Lot. Of Everything. Different («Krasnye Gorky», Krasnaya Polyana) and Art on Billboard Museum (Novosibirsk). She is a laureate of a regional award for her contribution to the development of plein air painting as an educator. Her works have been published in magazines about interior design and contemporary art.

«My name is Mariana. I have always been interested in two things — freedom of expression and technical perfection. I want my paintings to bring joy and kindness to people. I strive to achieve unity and harmony not only on my canvases but also in the world around me. My art is a message to viewers, calling for inspiration and inner freedom».