Katia Andreeva

  • BIO

    Katia Andreeva has spent much of her life surrounded by water. Born and raised in the Russian Far East, near the Amur River and the Pacific Ocean, her early connection to vast, fluid landscapes has deeply influenced her artistic sensibility. At the age of 20, she moved to St. Petersbur —a city built on canals and shaped by cultural richness—where she trained and honed her talents at the renowned Stieglitz Academy of Art and Design (formerly Mukhina Academy). There, she began her journey in painting, graphic arts, and book illustration.

    St. Petersburg, often called the cultural capital of Russia, immersed Katia in a world of poetry, music, and classical architecture. Surrounded by so much water, it seems only fitting that she does most of her work in watercolor. Katia enters into painting like a conversation with a friend; she knows what she wants to say, but respects the flow of the interplay between brush, pigment, and water. She says that using watercolor is never fully predictable: you can control your craft, yet you must be prepared to accept and transform the changing moments which can never be exactly repeated.

    Her approach—feminine, spontaneous, and romantic—mirrors the very qualities of water.

    Since moving to the West in the 1990s, Katia has lived in Minnesota, the Caribbean, and New York City, and now calls Minneapolis home. Her work has been exhibited across the United States, particularly in the Midwest, and has received numerous awards in national and regional competitions. Her art was displayed in the Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) in Minneapolis.

    Katia Andreeva is an accomplished watercolor artist, and her work is held in public and private collections around the world. She continues to explore the poetic possibilities of watercolor, bringing both technical mastery and emotional resonance to each piece.

Artist Statement

I am always searching for something extraordinary—an inner light, a quiet kind of magic—to shine through the image. When I begin a painting, I’m not aiming for a simple visual representation; I’m trying to reveal that deeper, more elusive quality that stirs emotion and brings a scene to life.

I draw and perfect the composition while the painting is still wet, working in that delicate space where water, pigment, and intention interact. I am looking for the moment it will start to come alive whether it be a whisper, a breeze, a shimmering light, or movement.

My inspiration comes from the natural beauty of Midwest parks, from poetry, from people and their brave souls, and from fleeting, tender moments of love and connection. These are the quiet truths I try to capture in watercolor.

Little About Katia

What inspires your work?

My inspiration comes from the natural beauty of Midwest parks, from poetry, from people and their brave souls, and from fleeting, tender moments of love and connection. These are the quiet truths I try to capture in watercolor.

What is something unexpected about you that often surprises people?

Something that often surprises people is that I still use watercolor paper I brought with me from Russia many years ago. It’s called Gosznak, and it was originally made in the Soviet Union during the 1980s actually intended for printing currency and official documents. The quality is extraordinary: it holds water beautifully, responds well to pigment, and creates this subtle, elegant texture that I haven’t found in any modern paper. For certain projects, I still reach for it—it’s like painting with a little piece of history.

What do you consider your most significant achievement as an artist?

All my artistic achievements happen in my studio. Every artwork is an achievement for me. Nothing makes me happier or feel more accomplished than putting my signature in the corner of a completed painting after hours of work.

How has your work evolved over time?

It has become more fluid.

Is there a particular medium or subject you're drawn to, and why?

I paint in watercolor because it corresponds with my personality.

What's the most challenging part of being an artist?

Honestly? The Minnesota winter. The days are too short!

Do you have a favorite piece you've created? Why does it stand out?

I don’t have a favorite—they’re all meaningful to me in different ways.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in the Russian Far East, near the Amur River and the Pacific Ocean—a region shaped by vast, flowing waters.

Who are your artistic influences or mentors?

I wish I could name them all—there are so many artists who have inspired me over the years. Here are a few: Rodin, Nikolai Fechin,  Andrew Wyeth,  Vermeer, John Singer Sargent, Michael Taylor.

What advice would you give to emerging artists?

Surround yourself with beauty—good people, good books, and meaningful conversations. Take long hikes, notice life. Stay open and curious. The work will come —with fire in your heart.