David with the Head of Goliath
Caravaggio
This haunting composition (1609–10) shows David holding Goliath’s severed head—modeled on Caravaggio himself. Rather than triumph, the mood is remorseful. The intense chiaroscuro, psychological realism, and moral ambiguity turn this biblical victory into a meditation on guilt, mortality, and inner torment.
Pantheon with Macuteo Obelisk and Fountain
Filippo Barigioni
The Pantheon’s façade (118–125 AD), built under Emperor Hadrian, preserves Agrippa’s earlier inscription (M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT - Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this). Before it stands the Macuteo Obelisk from Egypt (rededicated here in 1711) and the Baroque fountain by Filippo Barigioni (1711), blending imperial Rome, Christian Rome, and papal urban renewal into one historic vista.
Loyalty from Los Disparates Series
Francisco Goya
This etching (1815–1823) by Francisco Goya, part of the Los Disparates series, explores themes of chaos and irrationality. Featuring grotesque figures, it suggests blind loyalty or foolishness, reflecting the turbulent era of Ferdinand VII’s reign in Spain. Goya’s use of aquatint and etching techniques enhances dramatic contrasts and textures, providing a dark commentary on the social and political upheavals of his time.
Earth
Einar Jónsson
This sculpture (1904–08) depicts a human figure cradling a smaller, draped form, symbolizing the Earth or nature. Jónsson, an Icelandic sculptor, is known for his symbolic and allegorical works exploring mythology, spirituality, and the human condition. This piece reflects his exploration of humanity’s connection to the natural world and the spiritual realm.
The Earth
Einar Jónsson
Jónsson’s bronze sculpture, The Earth (1904–1908), features a seated figure cradling a smaller form, reflecting his shift to Symbolism after 1903. It explores themes of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence. Jónsson, a pioneering Icelandic sculptor, studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, significantly influencing the evolution of Icelandic art.
Adoration of the Child (detail)
Fra Bartolomeo
This tondo or circular painting (c.1495), Mary and Joseph kneel in reverence before the infant Christ, who rests on a sack amid delicate vegetation. The ruined architecture behind them symbolizes the fall of paganism, while the balanced composition and radiant palette reflect Bartolomeo’s early embrace of Renaissance ideals.
Homage to Vivaldi
Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar
This sculptural relief in painted wood (1963) reflects Villamizar’s fusion of geometric abstraction and musical rhythm. Vertical repetition and modulated forms evoke the structured elegance of Vivaldi’s compositions, transforming sound into visual cadence. It belongs to the museum’s permanent collection.
Male Portrait
Hans Muelich
This portrait (c. 1550) reflects the refined realism of the German Renaissance. The sitter’s composed gaze, luxurious attire, and elegant glass signify affluence and cultured leisure. The distant path and village in the background may allude to the subject’s journey, social standing, or inner world.
Instant Gratification
Rodel Tapaya
This work (2018) reinterprets the Filipino fable of The Monkey and the Turtle, placing its lesson within a crowded jungle of gambling stalls and restless figures. Monkeys embody the tale’s impatience and hunger for quick gain, while a small turtle-the steady effort outlasts reckless desire. Log piles, patterned trunks, and theatrical foliage frame a world driven by instant gratification and easy profit. Tapaya adapts indigenous storytelling to expose modern cycles of greed.
Christ Blessing with Virgin at Prayer
Master of Flémalle
This 15th-c. oak panel by the Master of Flémalle, often associated with Robert Campin, exemplifies early Netherlandish style. It showcases realistic detail through innovative oil paint use. The depiction of Christ blessing and the Virgin Mary at prayer reflects the era’s religious devotion and artistic innovation, marking a pivotal moment in European art’s evolution.
Mapiripana
Luis Alberto Acuña
Inspired by a myth from La Vorágine (a novel by José Eustasio Rivera), this 1950s painting depicts Mapiripana, a river spirit who guards silence and nature’s purity. When a missionary attempts to capture her, she punishes him by birthing monstrous twins—a vampire and an owl. In his final feverish agony, he sees a blue butterfly, symbol of his soul’s escape and eternal remorse.
Self-Portrait
Tintoretto
This self-portrait (1546–48) by Tintoretto, a leading figure of the Venetian Renaissance, presents the artist with an intense, direct gaze that suggests introspection and resolve. The subdued palette and earthy tones create a solemn mood, yet the brisk, energetic handling of paint hints at the dramatic style that defined his larger works. Emphasizing inner character over setting, the portrait later entered the Orleans Collection and was acquired for Marie Antoinette in 1785.
Apollo and Daphne
Bernini
Seen from behind, Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne (1622–25) reveals the spiraling tension of flight and pursuit. Daphne’s transformation accelerates—branches burst from her hair as Apollo strains forward, barely grounded. This angle heightens the illusion of motion, capturing the myth’s fleeting climax with lyrical virtuosity.
Cosmatesque Columns with Lions and Sphinxes
Vassalletto Workshop
These cloister columns (c.1215), with spiraled shafts and vivid mosaic inlays in the cosmatesque style—a Roman art blending colored marble, glass, and porphyry into geometric patterns—rest on sculpted lions and sphinxes. Crafted by the Vassalletto masters, they unite classical form and Christian meaning, embodying medieval Rome’s vision of divine order through ancient craft.
Apoteosis de Cuauhtémoc (detail)
David Alfaro Siqueiros
In this dynamic panel from Apoteosis de Cuauhtémoc (1950–51), Siqueiros reimagines the last Aztec emperor as a defiant figure armored against colonial violence. The clash of Indigenous resistance and mechanized conquest evokes Mexico’s historical trauma and the enduring spirit of revolution. Bold forms and forceful lines heighten the scene’s urgency.
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
For as long as I can remember, my path has been one of discovery—seeking beauty, timelessness, and connection in every corner of the world. It has also been a journey of deep learning and understanding. I’ve been an avid traveler (or perhaps a travel addict?) for most of my life. My love for travel began long before I ever left home: as a child, I drew a fantasy map of my grandparents’ apartment and “traveled” through it with my cousin Sonya, imagining adventures in every corner. Nearly 90 countries and countless moments of awe later, I’m excited to share this journey with you.
Thanks to the tireless and ingenious programming of Diagilev, we’re now able to present about fifteen percent of the images I’ve accumulated over the years. More will be released in small batches depending on your interest. While the first release leans toward museum photography, later ones will include more nature, architecture, culture, and general travel experiences. If you’d like to receive email notifications about new releases, feel free to reach out—no commercial use, ever.
Throughout my travels, I’ve been drawn to two intertwined kinds of discovery. One is intellectual: learning why the world is the way it is. History became my guide, shaping my perspective and filling my camera roll with museums and old buildings. To me, history is not the past—it is the key to understanding the present and how the world became what it is. The other is emotional: seeking moments of elevation—spirituality, beauty, harmony—often found in nature, monasteries, and ancient sacred spaces. Together, these impulses shape my photography. It invites you to learn, admire, and soar—to rise above the mundane and see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
Much of my later travel became possible thanks to my job with Delta Air Lines, but the wanderlust began years earlier. By the time I joined the industry, I had already visited over 35 countries and lived in several—largely thanks to a backpacking journey around the world with Luis León, whose face appears in many early photos. I grew up in Ufa in the USSR, and since leaving it I have lived, studied, and worked in Latvia, the United States, France, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia.
A life of near-constant movement may seem a little crazy, but it has deepened my understanding of the world and produced the photography you are about to see. Over the years, my style has evolved—more intentional, more refined—yet its core remains the same: a search for understanding, timeless beauty, and a connection to those who walked this earth long before us.
I hope these photos stir something in your soul, just as they did in mine. I’d love to hear from you—whether reactions, suggestions, corrections, or a request to be added to the email list for new releases (no commercial use, I promise). You can learn more about my travels here, and my academic life here.
Enjoy our shared journey!