Arina Orlova
Russia, b. 1982
Arina Orlova (b. 1982), Russian visual artist based in London, UK.
Her paintings explore modern mythology through the lens of popular culture and contemporary cinema. Myths are the stories we create to make sense of a complex and often contradictory world.
Every civilisation has developed its own myths to embody shared, unconscious beliefs. Shaped and reshaped through the dynamic processes of telling, listening, and reflection, myths evolve and hold a mirror to society.
Arina’s work focuses on the heroes and symbolic artefacts of popular culture, seeking patterns, echoes, and interconnected narratives. She creates acrylic paintings on board and canvas, often incorporating gold leaf. Her work draws influence from pop art, film, and traditional religious iconography. The "mythological characters" she depicts are instantly recognisable, forming a subconscious connection with the viewer.
Humans create objects and systems, yet often become dependent on them - caught in a double bind, relying on things that, in turn, rely on us. Arina is fascinated by this paradox, exploring it through images of people interacting with and becoming entangled in the very objects they use. She invites the viewer to contemplate this growing complexity.
Arina studied Visual Arts and Illustration at the University of the Arts London and has an extensive background in graphic and product design. She currently works from her studio in South London.
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Liz Taylor. Open Doors: ‘BUtterfield 8’, 2024 -
Liz Taylor. Open Doors: ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, 2024
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Kills & Kisses: 6 decades of Bond girls, 2023
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It’s a Trap: Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill / North by Northwest, 2021
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It’s a Trap: Tippi Hedren as Melanie Daniels / Birds, 2021
Arina Orlova (b. 1982) is a Russian visual artist based in London, UK.
Her paintings explore modern mythology through the lens of popular culture and contemporary cinema.
Myths are the stories we create to make sense of a complex and often contradictory world. Every civilisation has developed its own myths to embody shared, unconscious beliefs. Shaped and reshaped through the dynamic processes of telling, listening, and reflection, myths evolve and hold a mirror to society.
Arina’s work focuses on the heroes and symbolic artefacts of popular culture, seeking patterns, echoes, and interconnected narratives. She creates acrylic paintings on board and canvas, often incorporating gold leaf. Her work draws influence from pop art, film, and traditional religious iconography. The "mythological characters" she depicts are instantly recognisable, forming a subconscious connection with the viewer.
Humans create objects and systems, yet often become dependent on them - caught in a double bind, relying on things that, in turn, rely on us. Arina is fascinated by this paradox, exploring it through images of people interacting with and becoming entangled in the very objects they use. She invites the viewer to contemplate this growing complexity.
Arina studied Visual Arts and Illustration at the University of the Arts London and has an extensive background in graphic and product design. She currently works from her studio in South London.