Svetlana Kisselev

Bio

Born in 1972 amidst the artistic austerity of the Soviet Union, Svetlana Kisselev developed an early fascination with craftsmanship and the decorative arts. Entirely self-taught, she forged her artistic language beyond conventional creative environments, exploring enigmatic worlds shaped by myths, fairy tales, dreams, and imagination.

Following a personal tragedy, she emigrated to France in 2000. Life as an immigrant became, above all, a matter of survival, leaving little space for artistic practice. A warrior by day, she sought refuge in creation by night, transforming making into both resistance and renewal.

From 2013 onwards, Svetlana began commercialising her creations, gradually transforming a deeply personal practice into a professional artistic journey. Today, fulfilled and fully devoted to her vocation, she dedicates herself entirely to her artistic work.

France’s rich cultural landscape profoundly influenced her artistic vision, nurturing a refined sensibility rooted in diversity and lived experience. Her work reflects a dialogue between multiple inspirations — Sicilian, Byzantine, and Orthodox visual traditions — enriched with an intentional touch of kitsch. Faithful to a maximalist and baroque aesthetic, Svetlana creates wearable narratives: bold, theatrical pieces infused with memory, symbolism, and the vibrant colors of her journey. Through her portable art, she tells the many stories of life.
 

Statement

Born far from any artistic environment, from an early age I began building a world of my own — a world shaped by reverie, imagination, and beauty. To me, beauty has never been quiet. It must be exuberant, imposing, hypnotic, and unapologetic. It is never excessive; one can never truly have enough of it. This is why I have always been drawn to maximalism and kitsch — to splendour, ornament, theatricality, and a certain form of naïveté that preserves wonder.

As a self-taught artist, I see myself as a curious mind, fearless in exploration and at times intentionally provocative. My practice is driven by a desire to question the world around me: human nature, the meaning of existence, and our place within it.

Through my work, I create visual narratives where excess becomes language and ornament becomes expression. My pieces invite contemplation while celebrating emotion, contradiction, memory, and the richness of lived experience.