LIA MSTISLAVSKAYA

Lia Mstislavskaya was born in 1985 in Russia and still lives in Moscow today. Her first photos at age 17 were self-portraits taken with the sole purpose of “having headshots like the stars,” she says. At the beginning, being a photographer didn’t even cross her mind: “When I started taking pictures, the world of photography and art were inaccessible to someone like me,” she explains on her Instagram account, “there was no Internet or Instagram back then.” She taught herself online, moving in underground circles and regularly publishing her photos on Instagram where her account @abolutlia has continued to grow, reaching 60,000 followers in 2020. She is known essentially for her portraits, most often of women: “My favorite subject is the timeless woman, strong and at the same time elegant, both mysterious and alluring,” she explains. Today she dreams of working with Cate Blanchett or Tilda Swinton. A very secretive and fiercely independent person, Lia Mstislavskaya likes to say that her photos are like a bar: “You always find cigarettes, wine and women there!” ... See more See less

Interview

Why photography ?

I always loved to visualize my thoughts and i think photography is the best way to speak about female beauty

Your inspiration ?

My inspiration is a woman. Strong, charming and mysterious. But I usually find myself reading classic literature or listening to British rock music when i want to have a “boost” for creativity

What is unique in your photographs ?

That’s really hard to write about your own works, but the most often thing which i hear from people - that my photography gives a cinematic trace to them and inspire to dig deeper into art itself. Like they teleport to Paris 1950

Your next projects ?

My next project is music, this year I’ve launched 3 singles and now i am really inspired to make covers for myself

Your motto ?

Like Billie Holiday sang : "The difficult I'll do right now, the impossible will take a little while"

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