Natalia Markova — a student in Professor Yuri Kaluta’s workshop at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts — reinterprets Karelian artistic traditions through the lens of academic training. Graduating with distinction from an art school in Petrozavodsk, she absorbed her passion for northern culture from childhood, which now manifests in her mature works.

The artist is deeply fascinated by the world of Karelia’s indigenous peoples — their daily life, pagan beliefs, and distinctive northern aesthetics. Being an ethnic Karelian, Natalia feels a profound responsibility to preserve her ancestors' cultural legacy.

Her participation in international projects inspires fresh interpretations of Karelian themes, allowing her to articulate her cultural heritage through contemporary artistic language. Natalia’s works serve as a bridge between traditional ways of life and current artistic practices, creating dialogue between past and present.