Victoria Starovoitova

Viktoria Starovoitova (b. 2000, Mogilev, Belarus) is a Belarusian artist. She graduated from the Mogilev State College of Arts and the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. Currently, she lives and works in Minsk, developing her own artistic practice. Alongside her creative work, she teaches drawing and painting at the Department of Fashion Design of the Belarusian State University. Her works are held in private collections. Artistic Practice. The animal holds a central place in my artistic practice. I am interested not in narrative, but in the very presence of a living being — its character, form, gaze, and individuality. Through realistic painting, I create portraits in which each animal exists as an independent artistic subject. My practice develops in two directions. Miniature works require close, almost intimate perception, revealing the value of detail and precise observation. Large-scale canvases engage with scale and space, enhancing the physical presence of the subject and creating a direct dialogue with the viewer. Each work is based on sustained observation of animals and a desire to convey not only their physical appearance but also the individual traits of each creature. For me, it is essential to present the animal not as a symbol or an illustration, but as an independent personality worthy of a close, attentive look. Antique and custom-made frames form an important part of the pieces. Rather than serving as mere decorative elements, they act as an extension of the artistic statement, bridging classical tradition with a contemporary view of animal painting.