I am a fiber and mixed media artist from Kazakhstan. I have received my Master of Art and Textiles from the Kazakh State Art Academy named after T Zhurgenov in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I immigrated to Canada in 2005 to join my Canadian husband. We met and got married in Almaty and are still together raising two wonderful children. Before moving to Canada, I was a successful artist in Almaty. Upon arriving in Canada, I continued working as a full-time artist until my father suddenly passed away in 2011 while I was expecting my first baby.

   Among grief and postpartum fatigue, I lost my creative spark for a year and then I tried needle felting. Wool was a familiar medium as I used to make large wall hangings from wool and silk. I made wool toys and wool beads with needle felting technique. Unfortunately, my wrist didn't allow me to continue needle felting. I dabbled in making jewelry with my needle felted beads and that's where my jewellery making journey started back in 2013. I had my second baby in 2015 and continued making beaded jewellery. I took a beginner silversmith class with Victoria lapidary society in 2017 and after lots of practice, I started selling my silver jewellery in 2018. Since then, I have taken many private classes with the local goldsmith Estelle Curwen.

   I always viewed silversmithing as the ultimate form of jewelry making. It can provide endless learning of numerous techniques and methods and I enjoy learning! I had to work hard to develop my own visual style and language. Silversmithing helps me to understand myself while finding new connections anywhere in the world.