Anna Staritskaya was born in 1908 in Poltava, Ukraine. In 1925, she traveled to France to undergo treatment for bone tuberculosis. Though the illness affected her physical health throughout her life, it did not hinder her creative expression as a painter.
In 1926, Staritskaya enrolled at the Art Academy in Sofia, where she spent five years receiving a formal academic education. Her artistic journey took a pivotal turn in 1952 when she relocated to Paris. It was during this period that her painting style underwent a radical transformation. While her earlier work was marked by elegance and restraint, her later Parisian pieces became increasingly spontaneous and dynamic, characterized by vivid, abstract compositions with bold color combinations.
From the late 1950s, Staritskaya began to rely entirely on her intuition and artistic instinct. Driven by an intense creative impulse, she immersed herself in a range of artistic practices. She produced “poem-objects,” mastered collage techniques, and explored various forms of printmaking—including engraving on zinc, copper, stone, and linoleum. Alongside her visual art, she also created handwritten poetry collections as gifts for friends and engaged in detailed pen drawings and wood carving.
In the 1970s, the final decade of her life, a significant thematic shift emerged in her work. She became fascinated with demonology and Slavic mythology, often depicting mystical figures such as sorcerers and spirits with vague, fluid outlines that conveyed the supernatural. These otherworldly images reflected a deep engagement with ancient myths and the mysterious aspects of folklore.
