Eternalising the soul of stillness

Zoya Smirnova’s first collection, a series of still life photographs, draws inspiration from Flemish still life tradition, while weaving in her personal history and modern influences. Her childhood in Russia, her life in East London, and intimate family memories infuse each image with a sense of timelessness and connection. This interplay between past and present creates a grounding stillness.

Carefully curating each arrangement, Zoya explored her local area, unearthing hidden treasures in food and flower markets. She found inspiration in the familiar, reimagining objects from her home – beautiful glassware, food from her fridge, or flowers gifted by friends – all imbued with layers of meaning and emotion.

Her images capture these objects within a dramatic interplay of light and texture.  They highlight both fragility and strength, celebrating the beauty in impermanence and simplicity.

Whether it’s a delicate flower, a simple glass, or a piece of discarded fruit, each object tells a story.  And so, Zoya reveals their hidden potential, preserving the quiet beauty of these moments with a graceful and deliberate touch.

A foray into three dimensions

Following on from this exploration, Zoya Smirnova ventured into a new artistic practice – using sculpture and ceramics to expand into the tactile realm of three dimensions. This shift stemmed from a desire for both herself and her viewers to engage more directly with her art, creating pieces that could be touched, held, and experienced in a deeply personal way.

Working with clay has since become an intimate and meditative process, allowing her to connect with the medium one-on-one and uncover narratives that emerge organically during creation. This hands-on approach has enabled her to explore themes of fragility, transformation, and the inherent beauty of imperfections with greater depth and nuance.

Her sculptural works are both technically intricate and emotionally charged, again pulling from deeply personal reflections.  Portrait sculpting, in particular, has grown into a central focus within her practice. With each piece comes a unique study – a distinct character with its own unfolding story. Rather than imposing a narrative, Zoya allows the process to guide her, revealing the identity of each sculpture as it takes form.