Tucked away in Summerville’s creative scene is an artist whose journey to Lowcountry living began halfway across the world—with a stamp collection.
By Caley Smith, Photography by Bianka Lamb
Anna Ladyzhenskaya, a native of Moldova, discovered her love for art in an unexpected way. “Growing up in the Soviet Union, my dad introduced me to stamp collecting,” she recalled with a smile. “Many stamps featured classical European artwork—Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet. These miniature pieces of art were mesmerizing. I’d spend hours admiring their details.”
That early fascination sparked a lifelong passion for beauty and creativity, one that now finds expression on canvases filled with rich color, light, and emotion.
After graduating from art school in Kishinev with credentials in both practicing and teaching art, Anna went on to earn a master’s degree in architecture. But it was always painting that pulled at her heart.
“In school, we mostly worked with pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and tempera,” she said. “I began experimenting with more mediums later in life. These days, I primarily work with oils, but I also enjoy acrylics, pastels, and mixed media.”
Her work, like her journey, is layered—often featuring people, landscapes, and animals.
“Life inspires me. People inspire me—their expressions, their hands, the way emotions show through the eyes,” she explained. Anna’s portrait work is deeply personal and intuitive. “I prefer live sittings. I need to feel the personality of the person sitting in front of me. That connection helps me portray them in the truest way possible.”
And then, of course, there are the cats.
“When my husband and I adopted two orange tabbies, they slowly started appearing in my paintings,” she laughed. “Cats are fascinating. They have distinct personalities, just like people.”
Her paintings often reflect that sense of individuality and soul, whether it’s a vibrant portrait or a misty morning landscape. “I love the way light shifts—the glow at sunrise, the golden hour at sunset, the softness of fog. It all tells a story.”
Anna’s pieces carry an emotional weight, yet there’s also a playful ease in her style. Her portraits feel intimate and alive. Her landscapes are dreamlike but rooted in real experience. And her feline muses? They add just the right amount of mischief.
Now a beloved part of Summerville’s arts community, Anna can often be found painting in her home studio or chatting with visitors during local art events.
Her journey from stamp collector to skilled painter is a testament to the power of small inspirations that grow into big dreams.
“I think creativity is a kind of language,” Ladyzhenskaya said. “It connects people—through colors, textures, and stories. That’s what I love about art.”
Anna is a member of the Public Works Art Center in Summerville and can be found working at Studio 2 at 135 West Richardson Avenue. Featured in group and solo shows, Anna’s work has appeared at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Marin Open Studios, San Francisco’s Celebration of Craftswomen at Fort Mason, and can be seen at the Gallerie Elektra in Sausalito and other exhibits.
