Born in 1956 in Yaroslavl, Russia, Irina Popova has been painting for as long as she can remember. While many children draw fantastical scenes and creatures, Popova always tried to depict the world around her. With a natural talent from the very start, Popova excelled at the Moscow State Academy of Art and the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute from which she graduated as valedictorian; after her graduation, the Institute selected some of her works to be housed in their permanent collection. During and since her years of formal art training, Popova has won a number of juried art shows in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Penza, and Yaroslavl, in addition to selling her artwork around the world.