Masha Babko (b. 1992, Irkutsk) grew up on the banks of the Angara River, a landscape that would later infiltrate her practice through recurring motifs of fauna, forest, and the muted palette of the Siberian taiga. After completing a BFA at the Irkutsk State Academy of Fine Arts (2014), Babko moved to Moscow, where she joined the collective “1st Studio”—a loose network of emerging artists who share a common interest in low‑tech, hand‑made objects that blur the line between fine art and design. The collective’s manifesto emphasizes “material honesty” and “cultural bricolage,” encouraging members to work in series that can be reproduced as affordable objects (posters, pins, magnets) without sacrificing conceptual depth.
All 25 units sold out within two weeks of the pop‑up, with secondary‑market resale prices ranging from 2.5 to 4 times the original price. While Babko has not actively encouraged resale, the magnet’s demand underscores the growing appetite for “collectible art objects” among younger Russian collectors who seek tangible connections to cultural narratives without the prohibitive cost of large‑scale paintings. Masha Babko Siberian Mouse 1st Studio Magnet