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Maria Smolyaninova. Biography

Biography and Education

Born in Moscow.

2000–2006 — Studied at the Moscow Academic Lyceum of the Russian Academy of Arts.
2007–2013 — Graduated from the Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov:

  • Workshop of easel graphics (led by A. I. Teslik; instructors: A. A. Lyubavin, A. B. Yakushin);
  • Etching workshop (led by A. B. Suvorov).

2014–2017 — Completed a residency at the Creative Graphic Workshops of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts (led by A. D. Shmarinov).
2022–2023 — Participated in the «Free Workshops» programme at the MMOMA School of Contemporary Art.

Professional Membership

2013 — Admitted to the Moscow Union of Artists.
2017 — Admitted to the Union of Artists of Russia.

Awards and Honours

  • Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts «For Academic Success».
  • Two diplomas from the Russian Academy of Arts.
  • Silver medal of the Russian Academy of Arts.
  • Medal of the Moscow Union of Artists «For Services to the Development of Fine Arts».
  • Diploma from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation «For creative activity and high professional achievements in art».
  • Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
  • Winner of the IV Kazan International Print Graphics Biennale «Horseman» (nomination «Perspective»).
  • Winner of the III International Triennial of Modern Graphics (Novosibirsk, nomination «Traditional technologies of printed graphics»).
  • Winner of the III International Biennale of Printed Graphics «Kubachinskaya Tower» (nomination «Professional», Republic of Dagestan).

Artist Residencies

2023 — Artist residency for graphic artists at the Ostrov‑grad Sviyazhsk State Historical‑Architectural and Art Museum‑Reserve.
2020, 2021, 2023 — Chelyuskinskaya House of Creativity.

2016, 2017 — Senezh House of Creativity.

Exhibition Participation

Since 2008, has participated in exhibitions in Russia and internationally, including in:

  • Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain;
  • Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia;
  • Armenia, Kyrgyzstan;
  • Republic of Senegal.

Also participated in:

  • Art fairs: «Kontur», «Blazar», «Catalog»;
  • Markets: «Taste of Paper», «WIN‑WIN»;
  • Dak’art Biennial of Contemporary Art (Republic of Senegal).

Selected solo exhibitions

5.11.2025—1.02.2026

"Far"

Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA).

2025

"A place on earth"

Nazarov Gallery, Lipetsk.

2024—2026

"Epiphany of Maria Smolyaninova"

The “Manege” Exhibition Hall, Kazan Kremlin State Museum-Reserve, Kazan;
The Museum of Modern Ethno-Art of the Elabuga State Museum-Reserve, Elabuga;
The National Art Museum of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Yakutsk;
The Chuvash State Art Museum, Cheboksary;
The M.A. Vrubel Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts, Omsk;
The Far Eastern Art Museum, Khabarovsk;
The Exhibition Hall of the Union of Artists, Arkhangelsk; 
Krasny Most (Red Bridge) Gallery of Contemporary Art, Vologda..

2024

“Sense of a Journey”

Don State Public Library, Rostov-on-Don

2022

"Eternal Landscape"

Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, Nizhny Novgorod.

2018

"Etching"

Moscow City Hall, Moscow.

25.01—15.02.2017

"Dialogue with etching"

Museum-workshop of S.T. Konenkov, Moscow.

2016

"Etchings"

The Editorial Office of the «Ural» Magazine, Yekaterinburg

2014

"Poetry of graphics by Maria Smolyaninova"

Rostov Kremlin State Museum-Reserve, Rostov Veliky.

Artworks Across Collections

The artist’s works are held in private collections both in Russia and abroad, as well as in the permanent collections of the Russian Academy of Arts, the Rovinsky House of Graphics in Moscow, the Shigaev Museum of Modern Art (Kaji-Say, Kyrgyzstan), and various state museums across Russia:

  • — Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA), Moscow;

  • — The State Art Museum of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod;

  • — The State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan;

  • — Abramtsevo State Integrated Museum‑Reserve: History, Art, Literature;

  • — The State Architectural and Art Museum‑Reserve of Rostov the Great (Rostovo‑Yaroslavl);

  • — Volgograd Museum of Fine Arts named after I. I. Mashkov, Volgograd;

  • — Sarov City Museum;

  • — National Art Museum of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Yakutsk;

  • — Modern Ethno‑Art Museum of the Yelabuga State Museum‑Reserve;

  • — The Vrubel Museum of Fine Arts, Omsk;

  • — Far Eastern Art Museum, Khabarovsk;

  • — State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum‑Reserve «Island‑City Sviyazhsk».