My mother, Irina Yarova, is an artist, and her works had been accumulating for years. Friends and relatives admired them, but no one outside that circle had developed an interest in them. Then, I had the idea that it would be great to popularize my mother’s paintings within a professional art context.
I set the following goals for myself: Systematization: It was necessary to create a portfolio, CV, and artist statement capable of engaging gallerists and viewers, while also meeting the demands of the art market. Positioning: It was also important to formulate a visual and textual narrative that would present me as an artist with a recognizable style and an interesting concept. Promotion: The next goal was to use the created portfolio as a tool to gain professional recognition, up to being invited to a solo exhibition. In this way, I acted as the art producer and curator of the project, taking full responsibility for the strategy and execution.
The project was executed independently, outside the scope of HSE Art and Design School’s academic programs, but when building the portfolio and developing the identity, I relied on skills gained during my first year of study.
Mother’s quote as an epigraph to the portfolio
My mom positions her work as interior design, so I decided to create a catalog-style portfolio that shows how the paintings transform an interior by highlighting vivid canvases against black-and-white renderings of the spaces.
Portfolio development helped me more accurately understand what a CV and Artist Statement should look like
Deciding that the works were positioned as interior design pieces, I found it important to explore how the paintings affect the psycho-emotional state of viewers, since canvases kept in our homes create a unique mood for both the individual and the surrounding space. I observed acquaintances looking at my mother’s work and asked them what thoughts, feelings, emotions, or associations surfaced in that moment. Most responses were related to positive, warm, and bright feelings, sometimes even invoking childhood summer memories. Some noticed interesting, pleasing color combinations, while others commented on the boldness of the brushwork. For instance, my vivid childhood memory of my mother’s work is how much I loved touching the masses of paint frozen in various positions on the canvas. This confirmed that the ornamental rhythm of bold, bright brushstrokes accentuates both the mental and tactile sensibility of perception.
CV excerpts, as well as artist statements
Synesthesia
Musical and dance movements are translated into the structure of the canvas, where the composition is built upon the laws of polyphony, rhythmicity, and dynamic balance
For me, one of the most challenging stages was promotion. After the materials are finished, the question arises: where do I send this now and what do I do?
I submitted my portfolio to several exhibition halls, as well as to the Moscow Union of Artists (MSA) Creativity House in Tarusa. They responded quickly with an offer to organize an individual exhibition, noting the quality of my portfolio and art statement. The exhibition was assembled within a week. We also received feedback from Nastya Chetverikova—an art critic and author of the podcast «Art for Guys.» Anastasia also highlighted the unique style of the paintings. This response meant that the portfolio truly «landed» as intended: the curators were able to see my mother’s unique touch, learn about the concept behind her work, and grasp its distinct characteristics.
Klara Novikova grandly opened Irina Yarova’s exhibition.
It was particularly interesting to observe how each piece of art found its own audience
For me, this was my first real experience—from the beginning—creating a portfolio, developing a cohesive concept, to the final result—staging a personal exhibition and engaging with professionals: curators and art critics.
But the most rewarding moment was seeing my mother’s smile and the joy in her eyes after she realized the result of the work I had completed.
