My life journey began in the village of Sherguyal, located in the small republic of Mari El in Russia. With my first breath, I was filled with the air of the Mari people, an ethnic group distinguished by a deep history of pagan rituals and beliefs. My grandmother, the talisman of physical and spiritual health in our family, lovingly cared for all five of us children. She never stuffed us with pills but instead had us drink water over which she whispered mysterious incantations. I still don’t know how she negotiated with the spirits of our Mari ancestors or what she gave them in return, but her blessings gifted me the health and vitality that have helped me maintain balance through the many phases of my life. The first vivid chapter of my life began when, as a four-year-old girl, I herded geese taller than myself. While doing so, I often found myself drawing incomprehensible scribbles in the sandy roads with a twig. This chapter transitioned into a new period when, at ten years old, I began studying at a boarding school for gifted children, focused on art and music. There were no geese there, but the teachers—taller than me, once again—became the ones driving me and my scribbles, this time on paper and canvas. My time at the school culminated in my expulsion, paradoxically accompanied by honours, which opened the heavy, massive doors to the Vasnetsov Art School. There, I learned the craft of a ceramic artist and became a "gifted" young artist. In gratitude to my teachers, I dedicated the next eight years of my life to the Gzhel folk art craft. Perhaps the memories of my childhood—those "geese-and-swans" moments—guided my hands as I created works of art that now reside in museums and private collections. The subsequent chapter of my life unfolded under the auspices of RGB, where I spent over two decades applying my knowledge and skills to the fields of printing art and design. Yet, at some point, I asked myself: why? Was it simply to prove that white balance exists only in the soul? Regardless, I am grateful for that period, during which the sun shone brightly on me. Beneath that sun, I found my Sun—a soulmate born on the same day, month, and year as I was, who made every single day bright and happy. It was this Sun who helped me transition into a new phase of my life.Today, I am a free artist. As Picasso once said, “There are more copies than originals among people.” I’ve found myself. I’ve discovered my own original essence and defined it. Even if you don’t resonate with the visual representation of my thoughts, feelings, and emotions, I am certain we share one thing in common: a love for art and painting. This shared love unites us in an often ambiguous modern society. It’s what I see now Through the Looking Glass of my own.
By some happy coincidence, we might cross paths—not only in the streets but also at exhibitions, some of which will be wholly or partially dedicated to my works. I would be delighted if, from being strangers, you become dear friends who come to understand that the framework of my worldview extends far beyond the lines of this text. You will sense everything left unsaid in this essay simply by looking at my paintings—works infused with the energy inherited from my distant pagan ancestors. I am certain that those with pure and open souls, and a sense of the beautiful, will feel a piece of that energy. I am not one to hoard such gifts. So, welcome to my journey Through the Looking Glass—a path that culminates in the yellow brick road. Here, you will encounter the feelings I have experienced. While I may not be able to love all my guests, I will embrace each one with love. Don’t burn out in the sun, don’t let the rain dampen you, take care of your colours, and let only your beloved steal your heart!


Natalia Mustaeva, artist
member of the Creative Union of Artists and ArtEspaces
*The Yellow Brick Road is a symbol of the path to finding yourself and your cherished goal.