The Russian artist Irina Zatulovskaya worked on a peculiar relation between Russia and Africa.

Pushkin, the great Russian poet was born from with Ethiopian origins.

It is said that Alexander Pushkin dreamed to visit the African continent and had asked the Tsar Nicolas I to grant him permission.

He never received it because of his erratic behaviour that ended his life tragically in a duel, on the 10th of February 1837.

In 2010, Irina did the journey for him and elaborated a series of sketches and drawings capturing impressions.

She performed Pushkin’s poetry in Nairobi and around Mount Kenya.

She was surprised and shaken to discover a different reality, illustrated in a curious and delicate series of drawings showing the rural life.

Born in 1954 in Moscow, where she lives and works.

Graduated from Moscow Polygraphic Institute in 1976 and is part of the Moscow Union of Artists 3 years later.

1977: painted in the classical style of the Moscow School

1981: Her Portrait of Mikhail Rudakov and his wife was withdrawn from the Exhibition Portraits of the Central House of Artists in Moscow for “inaccurate representation of the Soviet man”

1987: Exhibits works on wood for the first time

1988: First trip abroad for a group exhibition

Expositions solo (sélection)

2008     Twenty years after, Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki (Finlande)

Carnet de voyage, Galerie Alain Le Gaillard, Paris

2007     Uomi e Bestii, Nina Lumer Galleria, Milan

Two Sarafans, Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki

2006     Iron, Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, Turku (Finlande)

Russian Christmas, Wäino Aaltonen Museum, Tufku (Finlande)

2005     Paintings on Metal, Matthew Bown Gallery, Londres

Irina Zatulovskaya, Fondazione Orestiadi, Gibellina (Italie)

2004     Cloistral Cabbage, Pokrova Monastero, Jovas, (Finlande)

2003     Trials, Musée Russe, Saint-Petersbourg

2002     The Lost Neglinka, Ulitsa O.G.I Project Gallery, Moscou

2001     Egg, London

New Sculptures, Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki

2000     Irina Zatulovskaya, Mitki-VKuTEMAS Gallery, St-Petersbourg

1997     The Chapel and Beyond, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki

1996     Russian Retablos, Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm (Suède)

1992     Irina Zatulovskaya, Galleri Lars Bohman – Stockholm Art Fair

1991     Irina Zatulovskaya, Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki Zatulovskayan,

1990     Neglinka is out of the tube, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Moscou

1989     Festivals, Raab Gallery (of Berlin), Londres