Anastazia’s photographic practice is a narrative exploration of the human experience, where she collaborates with subjects to make visible the unseen stories within their lives. As an artist she seeks to portray not just likeness, but the emotional truths and the nuanced layers of their personality that reveal their individual journeys. Through a combination of documentary and staged techniques, she aims to create compelling images that serve as visual parables, inviting the viewer to reflect on themes of identity, memory and the intricate tapestry of everyday life.

See Anastazia’s work as part of our conceptual photography open call, STAGED, curated by gallery intern Noa Ferder. The participating artists each examine how a still image can hold the tension of a performed moment, and carry liveness through composition, gesture, and construction. We create a space where photography is a site of performance, where the still is activated. We invite visitors to experience photographs that sit somewhere between rehearsal and outcome: the making of the image exists within the captured still, allowing the still to continue to perform in the act of being seen.

How did your artistic journey start?
I always knew I wanted to be an artist. Imagination and art have forever been top of my list. From childhood I was constantly scribbling on any bits of paper that I could find, even the inside cover of books. The blank pages. I still find books today in cupboards with my early creations. They are always nice to find, no matter how crude.

What is the first step you take in making an idea into an image?
I usually have an immediate thought. I often go for a nap and think it through. It’s amazing what comes into your head when you close your eyes. 

How would you say your art has developed since the start of your career?
I would say that my technical skills have improved. That comes with practice. The more experienced I get the fewer images I take. You develop an eye for what will work. I don’t plan too far ahead. I think things happen in the moment. Sometimes things just happen and I go with it. I enjoy the unexpected. Sometimes it works out different, or better, than what I had originally planned.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your photographs?
I like images that make people stop and think. My last exhibited piece for ‘Comfort and Disturb’, part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, was entitled ‘A Call For Help’’. This was inspired by the writings of Cesar A. Cruz, who claimed that to create activist art one had to comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable.

Can you elaborate on the significance or symbolism of the chosen title for your work?
It is now almost exactly a year since Paul has been sober. Now it’s easy. But at the beginning it was hard, very hard. Paul says the turning point came one night when the desire for a drink was unbearable, but his wish to give it up was strong. A long, fraught and emotional phone call to Kenny sealed the deal. Paul would seek help for a mentor. He would win this battle.

Are there any upcoming events or additional information you would like the audience to know?
I am currently exhibiting at the Glasgow Arts Club Winter exhibition. The project for Scottish Mental Health is ongoing and I’m always adding to my body of work for future exhibitions to help raise awareness of mental health. I am also working on my next solo project ‘Take Me To Your Bedroom’ where  I ask people to invite me into their most private space and let me photograph something that is personal to them, such as a ritual or a possession that is dear to them.

STAGED runs at Six Foot Gallery until 24th February 2026.