Marina Jijina was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia.
As soon as she could hold a pencil Marina was sketching images from her mind and scenes of her childhood with unusual skill. She entered Ioganson Fine Arts School at the Academy of Fine Arts aged 11 years.7 years of traditional and classical training have formed the foundation on which she later developed her unique imaginative style.
Portraiture images acting as complex metaphors for emotive experiences of the human mind.
Since graduating from St.Petersburg ‘s Herzen University with BA Hons in Humanities Marina Jijina has been interested in metaphysics and studied Philosophy of Art under a mastership of a professor from St.Petersburg State University.
Painting and drawing as a method of exploration of the artist’s own subconscious mind in attempt to understand other people better and find her identity within society.The aesthetic attraction of the face is not essential, while expression of emotion through face is of value and becomes an allegory of beauty. While exploring different aspects of the human condition Marina Jijina seeks to reinterpret past traditions by applying them in a fresh contemporary context.
Marina Jijina exhibited in Russia,Great Britain,Spain and Italy,including solo exhibitions in St.Petersburg, Russia,Cheshire and London,Great Britain. In 2011 she joined Debut Contemporary Gallery in Notting Hill, London,being selected out of over 2000 applicants to become part of Emerging British artist project.
Marina Jijina’s work can be found in private collections in many countries of the world: Russia, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Iceland, Mexico, Spain, United States, Canada and others.