Animalia

Animal portraits are a particular passion of mine. Mostly cats, of course, because they have lived with me my entire life, and I can watch them for hours.

Just kidding — that's actually quite boring; usually, they're just sleeping. But they are so incredibly beautiful!

I try not to limit myself only to cats and enjoy painting other animals as well — geese, hamsters, dogs. I approach these works as true portraits that convey the unique character and energy of the pet; for me, this is very important.

I believe every pet has a unique soul, and my goal is to capture that essence on canvas. If you would like a custom oil portrait of your companion, please reach out and we can talk through your ideas.

Available works

Food please, Lena Vanurina original oil painting, cats, humor, contemporary art Cyprus — full view

Food, please!

Oil on canvas, 2025

35 x 28 cm

At one of my exhibitions, someone asked me: "Who are these cats? Are they famous?"

They are my cats; they live with me, and in my world, they are incredibly famous. But this painting is much more than just a portrait of my pets. It is an exploration of a topic very important to me: humor.

Humor, as we know, thrives on the element of surprise — you expect something frightening or mundane, but you receive something entirely unexpected. I applied that same pattern here. I took the most adorable creatures I know and placed them in a sinister environment. They remain charming, yet they become eerie and superior all at once.

What do they make you feel?

In private collections

The Cute — Lena Vanurina oil painting, animal portrait, private collection, fine art Cyprus — The Cute Oil on canvas, 2025 20 x 20 cm In private collection

Rubber Queen — Lena Vanurina rubber duck painting, humor, private collection, contemporary art — Rubber Queen Oil on canvas, 2025 20 x 20 cm In private collection

The Furious — Lena Vanurina animal painting, private collection, oil on canvas Cyprus — The Furious Oil on canvas, 2025 20 x 20 cm In private collection

The Sleepy — Lena Vanurina pet portrait, private collection, fine art — The Sleepy Oil on canvas, 2025 20 x 20 cm In private collection

Goose — Lena Vanurina bird painting, wildlife art, private collection, oil painting Cyprus — Goose Oil on canvas, 2025 20 x 30 cm In private collection

Disco Chicken — Lena Vanurina chicken painting, humor, private collection, fine art Cyprus — Disco Chicken Oil on canvas, 2025 15 x 15 cm In private collection

Rabbit — Lena Vanurina animal painting, private collection, oil on canvas, fine art — Rabbit Oil on canvas, 2025 30 x 30 cm In private collection

Humster — Lena Vanurina humorous animal painting, private collection, contemporary fine art — Humster Oil on canvas, 2025 15 x 15 cm In private collection