Holy Kiss

Additionally, Smagarinsky’s oeuvre delves into the complexities of love, spanning the spectrum from the highly sensual to the tender bonds of maternal and filial affection. Her art narrates stories of love derived from mythology, intertwining seamlessly with contemporary expressions. Through her sculptures, she immortalizes these diverse facets of love, offering viewers a poetic glimpse into the timeless and universal essence of human emotion.

To me it is very important to leave something worthy behind, A mark in the world. We are living Ideas, thoughts and creations—where you are at your best.

As a teenager her talent was recognised and she graduated from the institute of Art at St Petersburg followed by a master’s degree in architectural and decorative sculpture.
Smagarinsky specialises in monumental public artworks, landmark sculptures and busts. Since arriving in Australia, Smagarinsky has developed both semi-figurative and abstract forms.
At one level the Soviet Union was kind to the artist, offering plenty of opportunity she is well represented in Moscow and St Petersburg.  But at a deeper level there was little scope for spirit in the Soviet system. So it happened that twenty years ago Larissa opted for spirit over security. She came to Australia. She did not realise however that for the artist in Australia freedom of expression comes at a price of a very precarious livelihood. Even so her work is represented on permanent display in Australia and internationally.

Larissa Smagarinsky is a Russian born artist who obtained her masters degree in architectural and decorative sculpture in St. Petersburg before relocating to Australia in 1982. Working primarily in bronze, recurring themes in her work are love and the human body. Her works aim to distract the viewer from the painful narratives of our fast paced media and to invite her audience to relax for a moment within the tranquility of her forms. Smagarinsky is unique among sculptors in having been honoured by two solo exhibitions at the Sydney Opera House.

Smagarinsky has been commissioned to create fifteen public sculptures in Australia and eight overseas. She has presented eleven solo exhibitions and been featured as part of numerous group shows. She is represented internationally, in Russia, Switzerland, and the USA.

Additional Larissa Smagarinsky work is available through our sister gallery, SOHO Galleries — view the full collection at https://www.sohogalleries.net/australian-sculptors/smagarinsky-larissa/