Artist Biography
Milla Petrova
Mixed Media
Name: Milla Petrova
Location: Seattle, Washington
Profession: Visual artist
Studio name: ArtByMilla Creative Studio LLC
Primary site: artbymilla.com
Background:
Seattle-based visual artist Milla Petrova was born in the former Soviet Union. Her work draws on Soviet-era visual language and symbolism, recontextualizing systems of control, order, and ideology into contemporary works centered on human vulnerability, memory, and agency. Petrova brings her vision to life through the tangible beauty of pencil, watercolor, and acrylic, transforming historical iconography into personal and humane narratives.
Frida de Nova
Artistic Vision:
Milla was always attracted to art and photography because a single image can capture memory, light, and emotion. She is known for her eclectic approach, which combines traditional painting techniques with works on canvas, paper, and found objects. Her work often explores themes of memory and identity, sometimes depicted through vibrant, textured layers that invite viewers to examine them more closely.
Her passion lies in transforming the invisible into the tangible: from abstract concepts to the subtle energy of human connection. She might start with a simple image—sometimes her own, sometimes a client's cherished photo—and unfold it into form and color. The goal is always the same: to create a piece that invites you to feel, to reminisce, and to see your memory as a timeless work of art.
Achievements:
During the pandemic, clients began asking her to turn their most treasured photographs into paintings, and she discovered the power of transforming personal memories into something lasting. Word spread about her talent, and working primarily with acrylics on canvas, she was commissioned to create art for private collections in California and Washington State.
She launched Art By Milla Creative Studio in April 2025 with a mission to bring her vision to life through crafting custom pieces for private residences, galleries, and public spaces.