Interview

Jul 27

Anna Bukhareva

Anna Bukhareva is a Miami based artist known for her expressive and sensuous oil and watercolor paintings. She obtained her Masters degree in Visual Development from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, having previously completed her bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in psychotherapy. Working with a huge amount of information as an editor at the All- Russian state broadcasting company in Moscow and background in marketing helps her to bring multiple layers of meaning into her artworks. Her deep curiosity about human nature and society structure has been a constant driving force in her artistic practice.

In addition to her formal education, Anna has also participated in several charity art auctions, using her talent to give back to her community. Anna's favorite mediums are oil and watercolor, and she has a unique relationship with each of them. Oil paints, with their natural ingredients, offer a sense of connection with the earth and primal nature, which makes it the best way to express dark, heavy emotions hidden behind layers. Her artworks are in private collections all around the world - United States, Moscow, Malta, Lathvia, Czech Republic, France, Italy.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“Several years ago, I started to see very clear visions of artworks in my head, it was like channeling - every time it happened very unexpected and fast. And I felt this urge to make them, like it was my mission to share these visions with world. But I did not have any drawing or painting skills. I even had a thought to hire an artist and explain him what to paint. But I knew I have to do it by myself. So, I started to take a lot of art online classes and then I was accepted at San Francisco Academy of Art University, where I got my Masters of Art degree in Visual Development. It helped me to create anything I want, including all my visions. Before Academy, I worked at one of the biggest TV channel in Russia, where I had find new interesting ideas and concepts. This also helped me to work with an idea on many levels, including psychoanalytical approach. I left my job on TV Channel to start master program in Psychotherapy. This deep knowledge in psychotherapy, plus exploring different spiritual practices and my 8 years psychotherapy helps me to understand my subconscious better deeper.”

What inspires you?

“What inspires me is my hypersensitivity, which gives me a deep level of perception. It allows me to dive into my feelings and emotions and creates vivid visions reflecting different situations. This heightened sensitivity helps me appreciate life's complexities, connect with others on a profound level, and find inspiration in art and emotional expression. While it can be overwhelming at times, I cherish this gift for its ability to enrich my experiences and foster empathy and understanding in all aspects of life.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“My art was always about myself - my feelings and emotions. I'm working in a concept of new sincerity, which embrace vulnerability, honest conversation about painful moments of our life. I also discovering shadow parts of our personality. I believe that lightning up these unpleasant, but honest parts - will help us to heal and become more complete. Therefore sexuality and dark feminity is also a big part of my artworks. These themes always had a huge stigma in society - and I want to start an open conversation with people about it. To encourage people to open their sensitive part to discover it and become free, instead of being shame.”

“I'm working in a concept of new sincerity, which embrace vulnerability, honest conversation about painful moments of our life.”

How would you describe your work?

“I'm diving deep into my emotions and feelings to grab these essence and visualize it to see and to show it to others. I call my work heaven of sensuality, because for me it's impossible to create my art without extremely strong connections with my feeling, I need to go to the core of my vulnerability to be honest about how I feel. When I'm painting, I work both rationally and intuitively, I choose to trust my intuition and even if my mind is against some choices - I always listen intuition.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I was influenced by Jan Saudek a lot, he gave me this freedom to show nudity with it's imperfection and sometimes even ugliness, which I admire a lot, because it gives you freedom to stop being shameful of your imperfection and be free from standards of beauty. I like his honesty about human's emotions on his photos - it feels very alive and true. He is not afraid to show unpleasing details and be too naturalistic. At the same time he creates some kind of a dark fairytale for adult, which I like. I also was influenced by Frida Kahlo and her honest representation of pain and love. Egon Schiele with his romantic imperfections also helped me to be more playful and honest with my art. Marina Abramović with her courage inspired me to bravely discover my own ways to be true to myself and not to be afraid or shameful of my art. Tracey Emin opened a way to women to express their sexuality in art and not to be ashamed of their painful experiences.”

What is your creative process like?

“After I see a vision, I start making raw sketches of the painting. Then, I collect photo references with poses, lighting, anatomy, and colors. After that, I create another sketch putting all of this together. Sometimes, I go straight to the canvas to improvise, experiment and see what happens - going with the flow. But I always use photo refences to make my art realistic.”

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What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“In my opinion, an artist role is to attract people's attention to certain topics, which are important to the artists. The artist, through his art, is giving deeper understanding of certain themes and makes audience think about it or look at it from a different angle. I also believe that artist role is to play with subconscious, spirituality, spontaneous and creativity, to encourage people to pay more attention to their sensitive and creative part, to awake people's submitted emotions or feelings. To remind people who they are, that they are not only util function in society, but much more than that. To bring back happiness, curiosity and fandango. To shake the dust of ordinary life.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“I participated in a charity auction at Sigma conference in Malta in 2022. I was selected to participate at Florence biennale in October 2023. I also participated in various Miami group art shows such Miami Swim Fashion Week.”