Man, Controller of the Universe (detail)
Diego Rivera
This section of Rivera’s 1934 recreated mural shows Lenin uniting workers of different races and nations, flanked by scientific, agricultural, and cosmic imagery. It contrasts socialism’s collective promise with capitalist individualism. The original was destroyed at Rockefeller Center.
The Apotheosis of St. Ignatius
Andrea Pozzo
Max captures The Apotheosis of St. Ignatius (1685–1694) using a viewing mirror beneath the ceiling, enhancing Pozzo’s Baroque illusionism. This optical device unveils the masterful perspective that transforms the flat vault into a celestial vision, merging art and exemplifying the Baroque fascination with perspective: a dynamic interplay between earthly and divine realms.
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova's marble masterpiece (1805–08) depicts Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, reclining semi-nude on a couch, holding an apple symbolizing Venus's triumph in the Judgement of Paris. Commissioned by her husband, Camillo Borghese, Pauline insisted on being portrayed as Venus rather than Diana. The sculpture, originally designed to rotate, reflects both personal ambition and classical beauty.
Discobolus
Myron
This Roman marble statue (mid-2nd c.) is a faithful copy of Myron’s Greek bronze Discobolus (c. 450 BC). It depicts an athlete in a dynamic pose, poised to release a discus, showcasing the Greek exploration of human form and movement. The sculpture highlights the tension and grace of athletic prowess, reflecting Roman admiration for Greek art and the enduring legacy of classical ideals in depicting the human body.
The Cathedral
Auguste Rodin
This 1908 sculpture features two right hands reaching towards each other, symbolizing connection and unity. Initially named The Arch of Alliance, it was inspired by Gothic cathedral rib vaults and renamed in 1914. The texture and interplay of light and shadow evoke prayer and contemplation. This work marks Rodin’s shift from realism to modernism, emphasizing emotional depth over physical form.
Puffed Star
Frank Stella
Installed before the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro (2016), this metallic sculpture by American artist Frank Stella dazzles with radiating points and mirrored planes. Its star-like form evokes cosmology and perception, inviting reflection on the interconnectedness of space, matter, and human imagination.
Lenin
Diego Rivera
This mural fragment (1934) shows Vladimir Lenin at the center, joining the hands of workers of different races in a dense crowd. The scene comes from Rivera’s Man at the Crossroads mural destroyed at Rockefeller Center, whose inclusion of Lenin provoked its removal. By recreating the composition at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Rivera reaffirmed his Marxist political stance.
Planting of the First Cross
Vicente Manansala
The painting depicts the 1521 event in Cebu where Ferdinand Magellan and Spanish soldiers, with tattooed natives called pintados, planted a cross. Commissioned for the 400th anniversary of Philippine Christianization in 1965, it captures a pivotal historical moment. Manansala’s transparent cubism blends traditional and modern styles, highlighting cultural convergence. The original cross is a historical artifact in Cebu City.
Altar of Saint John Bono
Elia Vincenzo Buzzi
This monumental altar (c. 1763) in the Milan Cathedral honors Saint John Bono, a 13th-c. bishop known for his piety and service. The central figure is framed by angels and crowned by the inscription Ego sum pastor bonus (I am the Good Shepherd), evoking Christ-like compassion and episcopal authority.
It’s Not Where You Come From, but Where You’re Going
Ramón Calcaño
This oil painting (2018), entitled No importa de dónde vienes, sino hacia dónde vas, Calcaño presents a vast view of informal housing. Central to the scene is a figure holding books, emerging from the margins. The work highlights resilience and the transformative power of education, emphasizing the pursuit of a better future beyond one's origins.
Madonna of the Towers
Bramantino
This tempera and oil painting (1515–20) presents the Madonna and Child enthroned between Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael. Set before fortified towers symbolizing Marian protection, the composition reflects Leonardo’s influence in its symmetry and restraint. Below, a toad representing the Devil lies defeated, underscoring the Virgin’s triumph over evil.
Eternity - The Soldier of Marathon Announcing Victory
Xu Zhen
This 2011 sculpture installation Eternity – Eternity - The Soldier of Marathon Announcing Victory, a Wounded Galatian fuses classical Greek forms with contemporary fragmentation. Crafted from concrete, fiberglass, marble powder, and metal, the sequence begins with a whole figure and gradually breaks apart, evoking cultural transformation and the erosion of historical continuity.
Painted Orthopedic Corset
Frida Kahlo
This hand-painted leather corset (c.1944), worn by Frida Kahlo, illustrates both her physical suffering and creative defiance. After spinal injuries and repeated surgeries, Kahlo turned orthopedic braces into canvases, inscribing them with personal symbols. She transformed medical necessity into art, merging pain, identity, and resilience.
The Penitent Magdalene
Caravaggio
This painting (1594–95) shows Mary Magdalene seated in repentance, jewels cast aside at her feet. With downcast eyes and folded hands, she embodies both sensual beauty and spiritual transformation. Caravaggio merges naturalism with sacred symbolism, turning penitence into a deeply human, intimate moment of grace.
Viva la Vida, Watermelons
Frida Kahlo
Painted just days before her death in 1954, this still life features ripe watermelons—some whole, some cut—bursting with color and vitality. The inscription Viva la Vida (Long Live Life) appears carved into a slice, signed and dated by Kahlo. Though her body was failing, this joyful image radiates defiance and reverence for life’s beauty amid suffering.
“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!