Irene Sheri came into the world a painter. More so, Irene came into the world gifted with inherent love and a natural eye for the beauty around her. Starting in early childhood, she began embracing her need to create, to capture, to express what she saw. Painting and drawing quickly became her love letters to the world, and by nine years old her lifelong passion was certain. Irene’s professional journey began in an art school for small children. Six years later, as a young adult student in Grekov Odessa Art School, Irene had already emerged as a highly talented artist, participating in local exhibitions and winning her first awards, including Young Artist of the Year. After earning a degree from Serov’s Saint Petersburg Art School, Irene went on to hone her craft at the highest level, in the Russian academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, whose halls have been fostering and protecting the most sacred elements of fine art for almost 300 years. True professional acclaim came when Irene received the State Prize in Art and was accepted to the Artist Trade Union of Russia. Her works increasingly appeared throughout Russia and in many European and online galleries. It is this expanded international exposure that ultimately ushered in the present part of her life. Irene lives and works in Chicago today. Her figurative paintings are very popular with collectors.