Nadia Kissel/ Drawings

Nadia Kissel was born in the former USSR and trained at the Ryazan College of Art and the Leningrad Academy of Art. After relocating to Kenya in 1980, her artistic vision was transformed by African cultural influences, becoming characterised by vivid colour, bold contrasts, and symbolic motifs.

In the 1990s, following a move to the UK, Kissel’s practice evolved toward concept-based painting, where each project is shaped by a central idea, allowing form, medium, and technique to shift accordingly. This approach gives each body of work a distinct identity while remaining unified through her commitment to painting as a core medium.

She holds an MFA with distinction from Birmingham City University (2016) and was awarded First Prize for her project "Stripped", exhibited at the 2019 Venice Biennale.

Kissel’s nomadic life, spanning continents and cultures, informs her ongoing exploration of identity, history, and the human condition. By allowing concept to lead, she pushes the boundaries of traditional painting, inviting viewers to engage with meaning beyond aesthetics.