Artist Statement
The purpose of my art is to create an emotional connection between the viewer and the subject. The close-up composition allows the viewer to examine the unique features of the subject creating a sense of intimacy. The background colors and shapes set the mood for the visual conversation. Sometimes I use gold paint to symbolize spiritual connection and reverence similar to religious art. The contrast between the realistic subject and the abstract background mirrors my perception of the world: the subject is what happens and the background is how I experience it. My still lives feature objects of sentimental attachment, such as the “Cups” series. The cups and the drinks contained in them are connected to my family’s stories and memories. My botanical portraits capture rare and fascinating plants from the local botanical gardens to help raise awareness for the conservation of flora.
Artist Bio
Lidia Churakova was born in 1986 in Moscow, Russia. Growing up she was surrounded by art. Her grandfather Constantin Churakov was a gifted impressionist landscape painter, and her grandmother Maya Frolova-Bagreyeva was friends with well-known artists and filled the house with their paintings. As a child, Lidia loved spending summers with her grandparents in a 100-year-old log house surrounded by wildflower fields and hemlock forests. Landscapes and animals were the main inspiration in her early work.
In 2007 Lidia moved to United States to attend North Carolina State University College of Design. Her studies included painting, sculpture, graphic design, and animation. After graduating in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Art and Design, she became involved in the public art scene. She participated in non-profit projects and completed 3 city projects.
Between 2017 and 2018 Lidia rented a studio at the Carter Building in downtown Raleigh. She exhibited new work at the First Friday events. The studio was a rich experience, and showed Lidia what it takes to be a professional artist.
For the next two years Lidia focused on improving her painting skills in the sketchbook. The watercolor and gouache studies provided inspiration for “Cups” – a series of medium sized acrylic still life paintings of glass and ceramic cups. The cups and the drinks contained in them were sentimental and symbolic of spending quality time with her family.
In Spring 2021 Lidia attended an open house event at the Juniper Level Botanical Garden in Raleigh, NC. There were many cactus species in bloom and their bright colors and bold shapes inspired Lidia to create a namesake series - “Cacti.” This new body of work started Lidia on a path of botanical portraiture. “There are so many rare and unique plants in the world, it is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. I hope my work raises awareness for the conservation of rare and endangered flora in the world.”
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