Ekaterina Abramova artist GAMAYUNA shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ekaterina, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Recently I felt it when I gave myself a morning just to stay in my inner world. I took a hot shower, listened to mantras, did breathwork, yoga, and meditation near my altar. I journaled, put on a mineral face mask, and simply allowed myself to rest and connect with my body and mind. It brought me real joy and deep relaxation, reminding me that sometimes a few hours of presence with yourself are more valuable than a whole busy day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ekaterina Abramova, also known as Gamayuna. I am originally from Russia, trained at the Imperial Academy of Arts, and I’ve been a full-time artist all my life. I’m also a mother of three, now living in Miami and working with many festivals and communities.
My art is inspired by mythology and archetypes — often touching the figure of the Great Mother — and it helps people in difficult moments to see themselves as more than just survivors, but as spiritual beings, part of eternity. I spent many years working and learning in India, and I’ve created many projects in Europe, including a recent spiritual mural in France based on mythology.
What makes my brand unique is that I don’t just create art on canvas or walls — I create experiences. Through live painting, rituals, and workshops, my art becomes a way for people to reflect, connect with themselves, and discover the sacred in everyday life.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mom saw me clearly before I even believed in myself. When she was young, she wanted to be a fashion designer, but in the Soviet Union her father told her it wasn’t a serious profession, so she became an engineer and later one of the leading scientists in technical science. Yet all her life she carried this passion for fabrics, clothes, and design.
When I said I wanted to be an artist, she knew how hard that path could be, but she also knew the pain of not following your true calling. She told me, ‘I don’t want you to feel this all your life — I want you to do what you truly love.’ She was the only one who believed in me, that I could get into the Imperial Academy of Arts, which at that time felt like trying to go to the moon. She saw me as a big artist before I saw it myself, and her faith gave me the strength to walk this path as a full-time artist.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could. I was born in a small town in the Soviet Union, and after its collapse, life became about survival. One night, our house burned down and my father and everything was gone. My mother and I ended up living in a communal apartment — sharing one kitchen, one shower, and restrooms with many families.
I dreamed of being an artist, but life was demanding. I became a mother of my first son, and while studying at art college, I worked nights painting matryoshkas and souvenirs to support my mom and my son. That time gave me discipline, resilience, and the rhythm of life — knowing when to be unstoppable, and when to rest and be gentle with myself.
Later, I lost one of my four children, my son. That pain brought me to India with my three other kids, where I created a spiritual art center. India taught me patience, healing, and that sometimes you need to just sit, breathe, and trust life without rushing.
Suffering gave me not only strength but also gratitude. I’ve learned that certain survival programs serve you at one stage, but later you must let them go with gratitude in order to thrive. I teach my children that gratitude opens all doors, while fear, arrogance, and ego close them. Love and gratitude are the true keys.
This is what suffering gave me — a depth of understanding, resilience, and spiritual clarity that success alone never could
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the art world tells itself is that an artist cannot survive outside of the art establishment.
For years, I believed this, and it left me feeling alone and left behind. But then I met my curator, Yulia Sysalova from Greece, who explained that not every artist needs to fit into that structure — some need to create their own world, their own niche. That was a revelation for me.
Five years ago, I began live painting performances, and from there I built an entire portfolio of international tours, festivals, workshops, and rituals. For many years I used art as a tool for personal development — connecting it with spirituality, mythology, archetypes, and symbols. I created my own art structure, my own community.
I even built spaces: in India I ran SKASKA, a gallery that became a spiritual center, and later in Miami I founded Gamayuna Art Garage, where we hosted countless workshops and events with teachers, musicians, and healers. Through this I discovered that each artist is a universe — you can create your own world, and people will gather around it because it offers them meaning, healing, and connection.
So the truth is: if you want to be part of the establishment, that’s fine. But if you don’t fit in, you can still thrive by creating your own structure, working hard, and serving your community. You are the universe, and you are the creator
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Definitely, I am doing what I was born to do. My path as an artist has never been the easiest one, especially in the U.S., where the capitalist system constantly pushes you to face fears of survival, paying bills, and trying to build stability. As a full-time artist and mother of three, without the traditional financial safety nets, I’ve often had to question where and how to root myself — whether in America, Europe, or back in India. This gives me freedom to travel and create, but it also means sometimes I feel less grounded, without a permanent nest.
Still, what keeps me going is the clarity of my mission. I know why I am here on earth, and I know that I am guided and helped every step of the way — no matter the system I live in. I’ve lived through communism, socialism, democracy, capitalism, and even envisioned myself in an ashram doing only Seva. But I feel it is still my role to be active, to create communities, to bring people together through art, spirituality, and personal growth.
Doing what you love is not always easy — in fact, it often comes with a high price. But for me, this freedom, this voice, this mission is worth everything. I never regret the choices I’ve made, because I know they all come from my dedication to what I was born to do. Even on days when it’s hard to get out of bed, I feel the call of my work, and that gives me the strength to continue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artabramovagallery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artabramova?igsh=OXIyZ3ZoaTBiZXp2
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-abramova-07a2106b
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Ekateri22440439
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ekaterina.abramova.5757
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA1-MvK3-JA4sN62NPq9l5w
Image Credits
Sebastian Berry ( first photo)
