Through photography, Katya Tsikina (2001) expresses her inner world of ideas and feelings. Using a camera to capture anything that lingers in her attention merges her internal visions with the external world. Her editing style is in constant shift, intentionally bringing out the feelings awakened by the subject matter through the colors and contrasts in her photographs. 

She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Pre-Law Sociology and minors in Political Science and Dance. After recently earning a Paralegal Certificate from the University of San Diego, she is seeking experience in the legal field before attending law school. Since moving to New York in February 2025, she has been able to refocus her energy on dance, choreography, and writing, with the intent to experiment further with her artistry and individuality. 

Drawing from her sociology background and her fascination with human nature and psychology, her work is deeply influenced by how humans shape and are shaped by the external forces of society. She is especially interested in understanding the root causes of individuals’ motivations and behaviors, and how these contribute to broader social dynamics. Combining this interest with more abstract concepts of existential crises and her own emotional hardships, she draws ideas for her compositions. For her, this process becomes a way to organize her thoughts, transform them into words, and give them a physical presence no longer dependent on her for survival. Such creative endeavors help her maintain a healthy mind and access a sense of flow and peace.