My work explores identity and belonging through the painting of interiors and landscapes, inspired by my experience as an immigrant and driven by a desire to create safe spaces for myself and others. I use my painted images as vessels to navigate my love of light and color. In my early days, I was captivated by interiors, a fascination that continues on in my work.
This interest in domestic spaces started as a way for me to reflect on my upbringing in Russia, but it eventually expanded to the exploration of the overarching concept of “home” and what it signifies to me now. As an immigrant, the question of belonging profoundly affected me, guiding me to create paintings that have enabled connections with people worldwide, united in our pursuit to feel safe and welcome.
Inspired by the Fauvists, Peter Doig, Bonnard, and the fresh Impressionists, I am deeply interested in the way art can transform our emotions. Within my works, you can glimpse images of my home, moments captured while traveling, and my unending explorations of nature – humanity's true home. I hone in on the subtle tones, lighting, and mood of each location to capture the emotions I associate with the space, amplifying the colors to craft a dream-like image.
Ekaterina Popova is a Russian-born artist whose contemporary oil paintings explore themes of home, belonging, and identity. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Kutztown University in 2011, she has continued to develop her studio practice and share her work through exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally.
Inspired by post-impressionism, fauvism, and magical realism, Popova’s paintings evoke mood and emotion through richly textured interiors and landscapes. Her decade-long exploration of home and place reflects a deep connection to personal narrative and the meaning of belonging.
Her work has been featured in galleries including Cohle Gallery in Paris and Menorca, The Painting Center in New York, James Oliver Gallery, Paradigm Gallery, and more.
Popova’s journey and work have been highlighted in publications such as Colossal, Flow Magazine, Beautiful Bizarre, American Art Collector, The Jealous Curator, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She has participated in residencies at Centre Pompadour in France, NES Residency in Iceland, and the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Greece, all of which have contributed to her evolving studio practice.
Based in Philadelphia at 1241 Carpenter Street Studios, Popova is also the founder of Create! Magazine and Art Queens and the host of the Art & Cocktails podcast. She has co-authored The Complete Smartist Guide and The Creative Business Handbook, helping artists build sustainable art careers.
2017
The Delaware Division of the Arts Opportunity Grant
2017
Semi-Finalist, The Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Philadelphia
2nd place, The Magic of Charvin Infinite Color Contest
2016
The Delaware Division of the Arts Opportunity Grant
The Creativity Habit, Episode 11: Ekaterina Popova "How to Build a Following and Make a
Difference with Your Art"
2018
Nes Artist Residency, Iceland
2017
The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts, Greece
2017
World of Interiors Magazine, November, 2017
"In the Studio With Ekaterina Popova", Creative Founders, October 2017
Find Liaison, Interview, September 2017
Newhall, Edith "Exceptional summer shows at local galleries…", Philadelphia Inquirer, July 27 2017
"New York: art aesthetics’ 5 Must See Artists at The Other Art Fair New York" Saatchi
Art/Art Aesthetics, May 2017
Average Arts Magazine, Issue 10, May 2017
Beall, Kelly "Ekaterina Popova", Design Crush Blog, April 19, 2017
Schira, Ron "GoggleWorks hosts two exhibits: painting and sculpture" Reading Eagle, April
9, 2017
Ignant, February 16, 2017
Dube, Ilene "Trenton museum exhibit looks at furniture as art", Newsworks, February 17,
2017
Art Reveal Magazine, Issue 25, February 2017
"Spotlight: Ekaterina Popova", Emboss Magazine, February 13, 2017
Apperloo, Sandra “Beautiful Bedrooms By Ekaterina Popova”, Artistic Moods, January 30,
2017
The Jealous Curator, January
2017
Cowan, Katy "Artist Ekaterina Popova paints an inviting picture of "Home" to remember her roots", Creative Boom, January 19, 2017
2016
White Sidell, Misty "Kara Ross’ Diamonds Unleashed Takes to Art Basel Miami Beach", WWD, November 30, 2016
Featured www.artistaday.com, September 2016
"Domestic Spaces and Still Lives in Paintings by Ekaterina Popova," The ArtBo, September 2016
Rief, Cassie "Ekaterina Popova: Thought-provoking and Emotionally Moving Oil Paintings" Empty Easel, August 2016
Feature Art Hunters, Summer 2016
Tussle Magazine, Summer 2016
Glassworks Magazine, Fall 2016
Studio Visit Magazine Summer 2016
Minetta Review, Spring 2016
2015
365 Artists 365 Days Project, September 23,
2015
The Artist Catalogue, Volume 4 Issue 2, Summer 2015
Expose Art Magazine, Issue 2, February 2015
2014
Studio Visit Magazine, Volume 27, Winter 2014
2013
Ivory Tower, Delhi, India, October 2013
Fisher, Dani Interview, Prolifick Radio, Allentown, PA, September, 2013
Coldiron, Cindy “Flowers In Art: Contemporary International Artists,” January 2013
2012
Cred Magazine, Issue 3, November 2012
Kovaloski, Serena “Dreaming of a Russian Childhood,” Artful Vagabond, July
2012
Knapp, Tom “Works of Light and Dark, Memory and Fantasy, at Red Raven,” Intelligencer
Journal, March 2012
Daub, Matthew “The Art of The Critique,” Professional Artist Magazine, December 2012
Capital One, Oliver Evans Building, Wilmington, DE
Kutztown University, PA
Berks Country Intermediate Unit, Reading, PA
2018
Highlight Artist, Red Raven Art Company, Lancaster, PA
2017
Eckhaus Gallery, Kutztown, PA
Come on in, Ekaterina Popova and Erika Stearly, Goggleworks, Reading, PA
2016
Ekaterina Popova and T.S. Kist, Capital One, Wilmington, DE
2014
Glimpses of Home, Redding Gallery, Wilmington, DE
2013
Space 2033, Philadelphia, PA
Grand Opera House Gallery, Wilmington, DE
Inside/Outside, Independent Space Gallery, Kutztown, PA
2012
The Blue Series, F&N Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2012
Emerging Artist Exhibition, Red Raven Art Company, Lancaster, PA
2017
Fire and Air Gallery Pop Up, The Hive, Philadelphia, PA
The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Artisan Series Exhibition, Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA
Fight or Flight, The Painting Center, New York, NY
The Other Art Fair, New York, NY
Sex Symbol, Carpenter St. Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Friends Juried Exhibition, Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE
On These Walls, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
2016
Diamonds Unleashed, Art Miami Fairs, Miami, FL Funded in part by Delaware
Division of the Arts grant
In the Secret Garden, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2015
Contemporary Still Life, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
POST, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
The Shaft Juried Exhibition, Shaft, Wilmington, DE
Assemblage, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014
POST, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Benefit for Ballet X, Bridgette Mayer Gallery Philadelphia, PA
Identity, UForge Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA
June Auction, ArtBombNY, New York, NY
Masquerade, AIGA Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Frozen, LibertyTown Arts, Fredericksburg, VA
Juried Exhibition
2013
Locale, Painted Bride and Paradigm Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Benefit for Ballet X, Bridgette Mayer Gallery Philadelphia, PA
WFIX II Aerious, Chris White Gallery, Wilmington, DE
Greenpoint Gallery Spring Salon, Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
New Wilmington Painting, Tower Hill Gallery, Wilmington, DE
Art Inter/National, Box Heart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2012
December Exhibition, Red Raven Art Company, Lancaster, PA
Illuminated Chroma, Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI
Mid Atlantic Juried Exhibition 2012, New Castle, PA
Reconstruct-Deconstruct, EYA Member Exhibition, Columbus, OH
From Our Perspectives, Oakland College, Farmington Hills, MI
2011
Multiplicity, EYA Exhibition, Goodwyn Hall Gallery, Montgomery, AL
Grand Opening Exhibition, Prelude Gallery, Philadelphia,PA
Biggs Picture 2011, Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE
