I was born in Moscow, Russia, and grew up in a family of physicists—a background that led me to a career in mathematics. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2010, I discovered quilting, and later, painting. I’m still not sure how I lived without it before.
In 2018, I attended a workshop with Ken Kewley on Bainbridge Island, returning again the following year. That experience, along with the 2020 lockdown, was a turning point in my artistic practice. Painted paper collage became my primary medium, with drawing and painting evolving naturally from it.
My work often draws on memory—fragments of scenes observed, imagined, or only half-remembered. I enjoy the presence of narrative in my art, though I rarely know exactly what the story is about—and I find joy in that ambiguity.
Michurina received a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics from Moscow State University. Her art education has been fueled by her brother, Leonid Michurin, along with Ken Kewley, Stuart Shils, Pat DeCaro, Dale Lindman, Victor Sandblom, Graham Nickson, and learning opportunities with the New York Studio School.
Her work has been featured in several group shows, including the International Quilt Festival, Cerulean Arts Gallery, and Blue Mountain Gallery. She is the recipient of various awards including 1st place at the PNWQ Quilt Show and the Seattle Co-Arts Scholarship Award. This is Maria's 2nd time exhibiting at Pulp.