In January, I sat down with Mila Sketch and her wife Julia, with the occasional appearance by their 18-month-old son, Lev, for an in-depth discussion about Mila’s early childhood and how that shaped her current life as an artist living in Austin, Texas. And the one word that kept making a mental appearance for me throughout our chat was “bold.”
Mila, with her natural platinum blonde hair, might be small in stature, but how she has lived her life and created art has been bold, daring, and perhaps even a little irreverent.
Born in a sleepy fishing town on the Barents Sea in Murmansk, Russia, bordering Finland and Norway, Mila was always passionate about art. She declared at a very young age, to the dismay of her practical mother and the delight of her creative father, that she was going to be an artist. Her mother told her no, she was not, and she was going to attend “regular” school and not the children’s art institution, but being the determined little girl she was, Mila made her way across town by herself at six years old to take the exams needed for the art school. Doing all of this without her parents’ knowledge until the results came in, and she had passed the tests to be admitted, ultimately landing her in both schools.
This bold determination resulted in Mila’s artwork being selected to be a part of the National Geographic Museum at the tender age of 9 and set the stage for the first of many fine art gallery exhibits, large-scale mural creations, and international exposure.
At 15, Mila and her family relocated to Moscow, where life and the people differed from what she was accustomed to. She entered the art college there but quickly learned that her incredible talent would not necessarily garner the attention it deserved due to the rampant corruption in the school. Feeling overwhelmingly frustrated and stifled by the administration, teachers, and other students, Mila did what she had to do to complete her art education while obtaining a degree in Journalism with a minor in PR & Marketing.
With her schooling in the rearview mirror, she traveled the world looking for inspiration and learning more about herself. She also started a graphic design and pointillism career, honing her skills and mastering a craft she incorporates into her visual artwork today. Mila landed her first international solo exhibit in Galleria Pall Mall in London, UK, in 2010, with all her original paintings selling out.
Although the show was a great success, the naturally-gifted painter felt like she still had so much more to learn and knew that continuing her travels would inspire and awaken her creativity even further. Mila made her way to the United States, visiting many destinations and devouring elements of nature vs urban landscapes. She eventually landed in Florida, where she reconnected with a former college acquaintance, her now wife, Julia. It is a love story for the ages that deserves a separate article.
As Mila’s life experiences expanded, so did her artistic talent and her need to express them in a more conceptual way. The visual artist, who prefers creating early in the morning when it is quiet, and the air is cooler, has defined her role in the art world with her bright and vivid pieces that hide so many gems throughout. Whether it be related to the overall message she is trying to convey or paying homage to the brands that have provided some influence in her life. The detail to attention she demonstrates with each fine brushstroke is one of beauty and wonder.
Recently completing a large-scale mural in the city of Garland, a suburb outside of Dallas, Texas, an exhibit for the Austin International Bergstrom Airport seen at checkpoint #3, or showcasing endless pieces of work at local fine art galleries like West Chelsea Contemporary, Mila is making waves not only locally, but across the globe. She has exhibited her distinctive work or created murals in Tel Aviv, Israel, London, the UK, Russia, Angers, France, Seoul, South Korea, and Dubai, UAE.
When asked where she sees herself and her future portfolio in the coming years, Mila explained hopefully, “I would like to take my art to even larger audience, incorporating more nature, but also making it more universal. I want it [my art] to resonate with the world.”
From where I am sitting, Mila Sketch is on the right path to making that vision a reality. This vibrantly bold visual artist is making big waves with the history she is creating that will no doubt leave a lasting impression for years to come.
Art lovers can support local artists by going to their exhibits, sharing their work on social media, and of course, by purchasing an original piece for their own personal art collection.
