Marina Ahun (shortened name for Ahun-Babaeva) was fortunate to have grown up in Russia and been educated at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, receiving the Bachelor of Fine Art and Architecture degree. This Institute has preserved classical art and maintained what it refers to as the "gold standard" of artistic expression. There, she studied hard and learned much in both art and architecture which has given her the tools to create the work she does today. She worked as an architect for a short time in Russia after graduating, she designed three commercial building projects and they were actually built.

Marina later experienced the ramifications that would come with the demise of the Soviet Union. But before the chaos that would inevitably ensue, Marina was able to escape to Uzbekistan. She married an archeology and history professor, have a daughter, but was unable to pursue her desired career in fine art in Moslem country. She found a job in Uzbekistan as an archaeological artifacts illustrator, she recorded material derived from archaeological context graphically. Uzbekistan was changing rapidly after the collapse of the Soviet Union and became a more hostile environment for her as Russian woman and an Orthodox Christian, and Marina Ahun and her family decided to emigrate. Because her husband was a native of Uzbekistan and was in a much less precarious political situation than she was, they decided that she should leave for America immediately, and the family would join her later. Her quest to become an American citizen was rife with twists and turns. She arrived in New York City in 2002 on a tourist visa and applied for political asylum. After a thorough and long vetting process by the U.S. State Department, she got Green Card in 2007, and finally received citizenship in 2012. And it was worth it: in coming to America, she was free to reinvent herself and started working seriously as a fine artist.

Marina’s artwork is full of strong, powerful images rendered in different styles ranging from pure realistic to expressionist paintings where some of the architectural features become almost abstract.

Marina became Princeton University's only Licensed and Commissioned Artist providing realistic ‘portraits’ of the University's iconic, historical campus. Her architectural renderings in series "Princeton University scenes" and "Crossing Nassau Street" are extraordinarily detailed and build with accurate perspective and foundation. She masterfully brings together the elements of exquisite drawing, subtle coloration, flawless perspective, sensitive modeling and brilliantly conceived compositions.  All of these factors work together to give a true sense of these beautiful spaces.

Marina is exploring the territory between realism and abstraction in her series of the world’s greatest city entitled "New York Scenes". These paintings are about capturing visual paradoxes with an inverted side of reality in their reflections while providing a reverse side of functionality in their hidden allusions. The buildings are just the starting point for a journey into the illusionary space portrayed on her canvases.

American motorcycles caught Marina's attention and she started a new series "Very Vehicular" because of her fascination with the reflections of the chrome on Harley-Davidsons. She captures and accents all the beauty and power that these machines represent.

Marina expands her talent to construct the perspective and geometry in her abstract paintings. She investigates and pursues alternative realities in her series "Portals across Time and Space". These paintings manifest a complex of natural impulse, deep movement, tranquility, solitude and expand the consciousness. Gallery "Portals across Time and Space" is doorway in the physical world that allows free access to and from the spirit world.

Marina's artwork is represented by Wertheim Contemporary Gallery Paia in Hawaii (Maui).

Princeton University:

· Officially Commissioned and Licensed by Princeton University.

· 18 original architectural renderings of Princeton are in the permanent collection of the University.

· The Official 2011 Princeton University 18 month Calendar is illustrated with 19 watercolors of campus buildings and scenes.

· Architectural rendering “Holder Cloister” was chosen by the President of Princeton University for her Winter Holidays greeting card.

Awards:

· "Kite and Reflection" was selected as a finalist in the Abstract/Experimental category of The Artist's Magazine 28th Annual Art Competition (2011) from among 7000 entries.

Artist's Statement

"I was fortunate to have grown up in Russia and been educated at The Imperial Academy of Fine Art in St. Petersburg. There, I studied hard and learned much about techniques in both art and architecture which have given me the tools to create the work I do today.

I do move back and forth between the two styles and two mediums. When I’m looking for urban street scenes that will become realistic paintings, I use watercolor. When I do abstract expressionist paintings I use oil and I have no idea what the painting is going to look like when finished. The painting dictates its own course. The processes complement one another beautifully and pure abstraction strengthens what I’m able to do when I paint realistically. What I’m forced to do with the realistic painting ends up being a technical contribution to the abstract painting.

The truth is that I’ve tried to build my life around sparks of wonder and dazzling passion for making paintings. I feel I have been surrounded and guided by the hand of God in my work and in building such a life.

I am grateful to Princeton and Princeton University for their support in giving me the opportunity to paint the many beautiful buildings on campus. I try to honor the spirit of all my subjects by breathing life into my work so that others may enjoy the magic, harmony and elegance I see."