I am Kira, a self-taught artist born in 1995. As a child, I was obsessed with ancient Egypt, hence the nickname "vaenaton," meaning "the only one for Aton." At the age of 15, I started painting on my computer, but after the first plein air sessions in Pskov, my hometown, I switched to traditional art.

I have never been a full-time artist. My career began in 2016 from a marketing role, and within a couple of years, I used this experience to transition to data field. Although a creative path is sometimes seen as a contradiction to a career in a company and vice versa, I enjoy working with data while maintaining the art practice. Constantly trying to find common ground in everything I find interesting, in 2021, I received a master's degree in Digital Humanities. During my master's, I taught Digital literacy at the university, where I guided students' data projects and created a lesson on building simple websites for an online course. By making this page, I attempt to somehow combine all my experiences.

I typically work with acrylics, gouache, and oil pastels, drawing inspiration mainly from everyday life observations, emotional experiences, and memories. Since I began drawing nude figures with ink at life drawing model sessions in 2022, I've increasingly used ink in my work and developed an interest in graphic art. Tools I use at work include Python, SQL, Javascript and more; I'm always curious to apply these skills in DH and art projects.

Selected shows

2024 Drink and Draw exhibition, Tallinn
2023 Absolut art expo, Tallinn
2023 Teed, Tartu
2023 Kuue kunstniku näitus, Tartu
2020 Zine as an Exhibition, Saint Petersburg
2017 “-42” book presentation, Saint Petersburg
2013 La Tenerezza, Moscow
2012 III Moscow International Biennale For Young Art
2012 Personal exhibition, Moscow

Email me to offer a project: vaenaton@gmail.com