“Between Heaven and Earth”, painting exhibition

The exhibition Between Heaven and Earth brings together the work of two women artists—Mari Lova and Elena Bast Milyaeva Goddes. Their vivid, intricate, fantastical works invite viewers into a world shaped by the power of inspiration and colour.

Mari Lova’s works tell an existential story of earthly creatures, suggesting that all obstacles exist “in the mind” and that we can achieve anything we desire if we pursue our dreams with confidence and determination. Her canvases depict birds in places they could never reach according to the laws of nature. A snowy owl, for instance, appears in Moscow, while a toucan finds itself in England, and so on. Working in her signature technique of light-dynamic painting, Maria uses fluorescent paints, lending her stories an air of mystery and opening up space for interpretation, while offering viewers remarkable discoveries in every work.

In her art, Elena Bast turns to ancient Egyptian mythology, in which birds symbolise the divine and are associated with the passage of time, domestic harmony, and happiness. In these works, fantastical winged creatures embody the fleeting nature of our lives. Like days on a calendar, they rush past at tremendous speed—before you know it, an entire year has flown by. The artist’s preferred medium is acrylic, which allows her to render rich, three-dimensional images on canvas with exceptional precision.

United by the artists’ zest for life, the exhibition invites visitors to soar above the bustle of everyday existence, slowing down over its most beautiful moments and bringing a touch of magic to themselves and their loved ones.

About the artists:

Mari Lova graduated from the Moscow State University of Printing Arts, formerly known as Poligraf, and has been experimenting with ultraviolet light since the early 2000s. In 2015, she founded her own art school, where she continued her experiments and developed a unique light-dynamic painting technique. She is currently studying at the Baza Institute of Contemporary Art. Mari’s works are held in private collections in Russia, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and England.

Elena Bast Milyaeva Goddes graduated in 2010 from the Department of Metalworking at the Moscow State Evening Metallurgical Institute, specialising in artistic forging. She is a member of the Creative Union of Decorative and Applied Arts Artists. Elena Bast’s works are held in the collection of the Russian Numismatic House, as well as in private collections in Russia and the United States.