Puppetry Roots & Creative Path

Tanya’s creative path began with puppetry—studying marionettes, rod, glove, and Bunraku-style forms. That love for physical storytelling led her to train in set and costume design at the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts. Later, after moving to Estonia, she earned an MFA in illustration and design from the Estonian Academy of Arts.

She spent 15+ years as a 2D and 3D animator—designing digital characters, building puppet-like rigs, and animating stories for educational platforms, games, and short films. Her animated work draws on the same instincts as puppetry: movement, rhythm, emotion, and performance.

Now based in Portugal, Tanya is revisiting her puppetry roots with fresh energy. Inspired by the country’s rich traditions—from giant puppets at Braga’s São João Festival to museum collections in Lisbon and Porto—she’s beginning to develop ideas for original puppet theater.
Her lifelong fascination with visual narrative continues to evolve, bridging print, screen, and stage.