In her spacious studio in Chiswick, Tatiana Fetisova has shelves lined with paintings recently returned from galleries and art fairs. This studio visit offered a fascinating insight into Tatiana’s artistic process and the development of her collections Sweet Artificiality, I Am Nothing Till Filled and Friends Again.
Tatiana’s rich storytelling brings each piece to life, with personal experiences and memories shining through the layers of oil paint on canvas.
Hollow Doll takes pride of place in the studio. Featuring the traditional Russian matryoshka doll, the work is a form of self-portraiture. Through her distinctive, self-coined approach of “balloonized realism”, Tatiana evokes memories and human emotions through the fragile, fleeting nature of balloons. Seen up close, the balloons possess a surprising sense of weight and presence. This reflects the artist’s deeply personal approach, with each work capturing aspects of her experience, memory and identity.
The Friends Again collection was inspired by Tatiana’s time in Istanbul, where she was bitten by a group of dogs. The experience left her traumatised, and she now finds herself conflicted when encountering dogs. The collection has become a way for Tatiana to process this experience, depicting dogs in a playful and endearing manner while retaining the distinctive visual language of her earlier work.
Tatiana’s decision to incorporate her relationship with dogs into her art coincides with a growing interest in animal imagery at major art fairs across London. Animals, particularly dogs, are increasingly becoming the focus of artworks, reflecting the special place they hold in our hearts. This year, works by Tomas Harker and Sean Landers are being showcased at Frieze London.
Tatiana is currently developing a new collection, which visitors also had the opportunity to discover during the studio visit. Drawing on childhood memories of her first encounters with art, including embroidery lessons at school, she is exploring mixed-media techniques in her latest works. The intricate craftsmanship reveals the delicate parallels between humanity and nature.
During the discussion, Tatiana reflected on her fascination with the different ways people interpret her work. What one viewer might see as a thumbprint, another might recognise as a tree ring. These varied interpretations are an important part of the experience, allowing each viewer to bring their own perspective and associations to the work.
Tatiana Fetisova’s work will be exhibited at Manchester Art Fair, 19-22 November 2026.
Wtitten by Tamara Greatrex.
