We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Polina Varlamova a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Polina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

“The Body project” is one of my biggest projects. I’ve been working on it since 2020. I am always looking for a new type of expression, ways to deepen it, and make it more complex.

“The Body project” is a deeply meaningful exploration of the forms and states of the body, which aims to record the changing perception of one’s own bodily self. Through my work, I reflect on the changes that occur to the body over time, both in terms of its physical form and its impact on the sense of self.

As an immigrant, I am particularly interested in the interaction of the figure with space. I explore the connection between the body and nature, and how the new environment reflects on the human figure. Each piece reflects the internal struggles of immigrants – the confusion, fear, homesickness, and uncertainty- and shows the effect on the human body.

I’m an interdisciplinary artist, I work with a range of media including textiles, embroidery, sculpture, and installation. Through this approach, I aim to engage the viewer on multiple levels and provide a rich and immersive experience that invites them to reflect on the beauty and complexity of the human form. The abundance of media and materials allows me to capture all facets of the chosen themes and present their visual interpretation in a broad perspective.

Polina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Polina. I’ve been working in the fashion industry for 12 years. I have a BFA as a textile designer. For 6 years I worked as a leading artist in the Solstudio Textile Design – the only textile printing studio that represents Russia at Premiere Vision, the main international textile exhibition. In 2019 my husband, my cat, and I moved to the USA. I am now positioned as a visual artist: I create textile sculptures, take part in exhibitions, and compete in contests. My artistic practice reflects on my experience of immigration, drawing on personal archives and tracing my own transformation.

Since September 2022 I’m the emerging artist in Frank gallery. I’m participating in every show during the years 2022-2023. It gives me the opportunity to participate in one of the oldest galleries in Chapel Hill and to be part of the talented artist community.

In November 2022 I had my solo show in Louise Jones Brown gallery (Duke University). The exhibition features two projects: an earlier, “The body project”, and the most recent, “The endless summer”, created especially for this exhibition. In “The Endless Summer” explores the traditions of my family. I investigate my early childhood memories through the recent experience of immigration.

Also, in November 2022, my textile sculpture “The well” won The Best in Show winner at the 43rd Annual National Juried Art Show (Goldsboro, North Carolina). This was the great appreciation from the local juries and art community. I won $1000! It was the first prize in my life. It means a lot because this sculpture is in memory of my father who passed away six years ago.

I take part in numerous group exhibitions across various locations including New York, Raleigh, Durham, and Goldsboro, NC.

In 2024, my personal exhibition will be in Horace Williams house, which connects the deep cultural legacy with my contemporary textile sculptures and embroideries.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My general goals are to: enrich the local contemporary art scene, acquaint people with the creative process, and increase diversity. I also want to be a part of the fusion american culture and make my own approach in this mix of cultures.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My experience with immigration has been a profound and transformative one. As someone on a dependent visa, I was not able to work officially, which gave me an unprecedented amount of free time. During this time, I discovered a newfound passion for classical and contemporary art that captivated me in ways I had never experienced before. It was during this period that I began to realize that I had much more to say than I had previously thought. I realized that I was more than just a textile designer; I had the potential to explore new creative avenues and express myself in ways I never thought possible. Although the journey has been slow and steady, I am taking small steps every day to realize my newfound ambitions and to become the artist I have always wanted to be.

My art helps to feel a deep connection with a new reality, with a new culture. Kindness and hospitality are a part of Southern culture that I feel very supported by. People have taken me into their communities, especially the art community, and I feel that I can express myself fully. I do not feel judged in negative ways, I have only felt gratitude and appreciation for my work.

Textiles and quilt-making are established forms of art creation in the United States, and I am often inspired by the traditional work of local artists. Despite not working in traditional ways, I always find connection to the work I see in museums and galleries. I feel that I can bring my own view to the art forms and that I can contribute to the current art scene.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.polinavarlamova.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artprojects_pv/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polina.varlamova.560

Image Credits
Personal photo- Katie Stew. Additional photos- all photos are mine.