New York is a city of endless characters, and for artist and illustrator Svetlana Vasina, some of the most intriguing are the ones we pass every day without noticing. Working across traditional painting and digital illustration, Vasina transforms familiar scenes of urban life into colorful, playful narratives filled with humor and personality.
Her latest series, Locals, turns one of New York’s most ordinary inhabitants—the pigeon—into a true city character. With their routines, habits, attitudes, and tiny everyday pleasures, her pigeons become humorous reflections of New Yorkers themselves. Developed over two years, the project has grown from paintings on round canvases into a broader visual world of digital illustrations and urban scenes. Works from the series have already appeared at the World Trade Center during HUGFest and on LinkNYC screens throughout the city.
In this interview, Vasina talks about finding inspiration in everyday New York, the story behind Locals, and how humor and observation allow her to turn ordinary moments into art.
Her latest series, Locals, turns one of New York’s most ordinary inhabitants—the pigeon—into a true city character. With their routines, habits, attitudes, and tiny everyday pleasures, her pigeons become humorous reflections of New Yorkers themselves. Developed over two years, the project has grown from paintings on round canvases into a broader visual world of digital illustrations and urban scenes. Works from the series have already appeared at the World Trade Center during HUGFest and on LinkNYC screens throughout the city.
In this interview, Vasina talks about finding inspiration in everyday New York, the story behind Locals, and how humor and observation allow her to turn ordinary moments into art.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about what you do?
I’m Svetlana Vasina, an artist and illustrator based in New York City. I work with both traditional painting and digital illustration. My work is usually colorful and playful, and I like finding ideas in everyday life.
A lot of my work is inspired by the city, humor, and ordinary situations that can become a little strange or funny when you look at them differently. My latest project, Locals, is probably the best example of that.
I’m Svetlana Vasina, an artist and illustrator based in New York City. I work with both traditional painting and digital illustration. My work is usually colorful and playful, and I like finding ideas in everyday life.
A lot of my work is inspired by the city, humor, and ordinary situations that can become a little strange or funny when you look at them differently. My latest project, Locals, is probably the best example of that.
You recently finished a series called Locals. Can you tell us about it?
Locals is a series about New York City pigeons. I started working on it about two years ago, and I recently finished the full series.
Pigeons are everywhere in New York, but most of the time we don’t really notice them. I wanted to imagine them not as background characters, but as actual New Yorkers. They have their own routines, personalities, bad habits, little luxuries, and ways of surviving the city.
Locals is a series about New York City pigeons. I started working on it about two years ago, and I recently finished the full series.
Pigeons are everywhere in New York, but most of the time we don’t really notice them. I wanted to imagine them not as background characters, but as actual New Yorkers. They have their own routines, personalities, bad habits, little luxuries, and ways of surviving the city.
Why pigeons?
I think pigeons are very New York. They are always around us - on subway platforms, outside coffee shops, in parks, or next to someone eating lunch.
After living here, I started noticing their behavior more. Sometimes they really remind me of people. So I started imagining their little New York lives. One grabs a pizza slice, another needs coffee first, someone looks like they just arrived in the city, and someone else looks like they have been here forever.
I think pigeons are very New York. They are always around us - on subway platforms, outside coffee shops, in parks, or next to someone eating lunch.
After living here, I started noticing their behavior more. Sometimes they really remind me of people. So I started imagining their little New York lives. One grabs a pizza slice, another needs coffee first, someone looks like they just arrived in the city, and someone else looks like they have been here forever.
How did the series develop?
It started with individual paintings, mostly pigeons on round canvases with my signature pink background. Then I began creating digital illustrations and putting the pigeons into bigger New York scenes.
The more I worked on it, the more it became its own little world. The same characters and ideas could exist in paintings, illustrations, prints, and other formats.
It started with individual paintings, mostly pigeons on round canvases with my signature pink background. Then I began creating digital illustrations and putting the pigeons into bigger New York scenes.
The more I worked on it, the more it became its own little world. The same characters and ideas could exist in paintings, illustrations, prints, and other formats.
Some works from the series have already been shown publicly. What was that experience like?
Some of the first works from the series were exhibited at the World Trade Center during HUGFest. It was a really nice moment for me because I had only just started working on the series, and people were already able to see the first pieces in public.
Illustrations from the series were also featured through Art on Link on LinkNYC screens around the city. Seeing my New York pigeons actually displayed on the streets of New York felt very special.
Some of the first works from the series were exhibited at the World Trade Center during HUGFest. It was a really nice moment for me because I had only just started working on the series, and people were already able to see the first pieces in public.
Illustrations from the series were also featured through Art on Link on LinkNYC screens around the city. Seeing my New York pigeons actually displayed on the streets of New York felt very special.
What do you want people to feel when they see Locals?
First, I want them to smile. The series is playful, but it is also my way of showing affection for New York and the small things that make the city what it is.
Maybe after seeing the series, someone will notice the next pigeon they pass on the street and wonder where it is going.
First, I want them to smile. The series is playful, but it is also my way of showing affection for New York and the small things that make the city what it is.
Maybe after seeing the series, someone will notice the next pigeon they pass on the street and wonder where it is going.
Now that Locals is finished, what’s next for you?
I’m still exploring New York as a big part of my work, but I’m ready to move on to new characters and ideas. Right now, I’m working on a new series about dogs, which is becoming another playful way for me to explore different personalities and everyday situations.
I also have a few other projects in progress, both paintings and illustrations, and I want to continue experimenting with how I combine traditional and digital work.
I’m still exploring New York as a big part of my work, but I’m ready to move on to new characters and ideas. Right now, I’m working on a new series about dogs, which is becoming another playful way for me to explore different personalities and everyday situations.
I also have a few other projects in progress, both paintings and illustrations, and I want to continue experimenting with how I combine traditional and digital work.
Interested in discovering more from this talented artist? Explore the portfolio, follow new projects, and connect through the links below.
Instagram: @svetavasina
Website: svetavasina.com
Instagram: @svetavasina
Website: svetavasina.com
Miami, Fl