Irina Lakshin "The right to define"

Irina Lakshin "The right to define" 2022

Sculpture: Ceramics (Stoneware Clay and Terra Sigillata)
Dimensions: 19.5H x 28W x 14D in
Unique
Signed by the artist, Includes a Certificate of Authenticity

Born and raised in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the former USSR, Irina Deshchenko-Lakshin built an initial career in banking after earning her Master’s degree in Economics from the Academy of Foreign Trade. She later moved to the United States in 2009, where her journey into the arts began. After relocating to the U.S., Irina took pottery classes as a personal interest and quickly developed a passion for ceramics. Over the following years, she studied with various ceramic artists. What began as a hobby soon evolved into a professional pursuit. In 2013, Irina began showcasing her work in gallery exhibitions, and her pieces have since entered numerous private collections. She continued her formal art education, earning a Certificate of Fine Art in 2018 and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 2021. Irina works primarily with stoneware clay, porcelain, and terra-cotta, experimenting with various firing methods. Her style, contemporary with classical influences, is evident in her creation of vessels and figurative sculptures, which convey both timeless forms and modern sensibilities. In 2020, Irina launched the Mishka series—a collection of teddy bear-like sculptures designed as avatars representing human experiences and emotions in various life situations. Through Mishka, she explores narratives that resonate with her personal experiences or with universal themes, offering reflections on shared aspects of the human condition.

“The "Right to Define" sculpture challenges the boundaries placed on identity by societal norms and expectations. The teddy bears, often seen as symbols of uniformity and childhood simplicity, take control of their narratives by using a Sharpie to illustrate their chosen identities. This act represents more than playful defiance—it embodies the fundamental right to self-expression and autonomy in a world that often seeks to categorize and limit. By presenting this through familiar, innocent figures, the sculpture highlights the absurdity of rigid gender classifications while emphasizing the power of reclaiming one’s own story. The "Right to Define" invites viewers to consider the courage it takes to resist imposed identities and celebrate the freedom to be authentically oneself.

Defiant yet playful, "Mishka with Attitude" transforms a childhood symbol into an icon of resistance. In a time of rising authoritarianism, this rebellious bear asserts the power of dissent—bold, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore.” - Irina Lakshin