Alina Gozin’a has made an unusual transition - from a tax advisor in banking at PwC to a Cannes-nominated, award-winning Interdisciplinary creative, using photography, film and art to tell stories. She is one of Australia’s leading figures in her field.
Born in Odesa (during The Soviet Union era), Alina has lived and worked in Sydney, then Berlin & Hamburg, New York and LA, and is currently based in Sydney. Alina’s “New York chapter” had a tremendous impact on her artwork: she created large-scale, optical illusion body of work, The Doormen of New York , which opened as a solo exhibition and Harlem Love Stories, which also opened as solo exhibition, as well as other bodies of work yet to be presented to the public: The Last Snow of New York; Perth Boys; Coney Love. all shot in NYC.
Alina has been featured in a TEDxSydney 2021 video & article on ABC Breakfast News, AFR magazine, AFR and SMH newspapers, ABC national radio, SBS radio, various podcasts and other numerous media. She has earned numerous awards and nominations for her photography and film work, including a nomination for the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions for her directorial debut commercial 3 Fat Babushkas. Her short documentary, Life on the Rocks, received a grant from both The City of Sydney and Screen Australia. International recognition for her work also culminated with a gold prize at the London Photographic Association Portraiture competition. Alina was also a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra as well as other numerous photographic competitions such as Head On, Olive Cotton, Sydney Life and Shoot the Chef.
As an artist, Alina creates large-scale photographic, brass & optical illusion artworks. Her work explores the events in history that have created ripple effect across time and globe, often resulting in irreversible changes for humanity. Alina has had numerous solo exhibitions in both NYC and Sydney and is represented by Wentworth Galleries.
As a photographer and director, Alina works with global companies, helping them to tell their stories through creative campaigns. her expertise is in visual transformation.
Alina has executed campaigns for major brand names across a variety of arts, advertising, and media industries; her work has been featured in The Australian Financial Review Magazine, Forbes, Tatler Asia, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Executive Style, Madame Figaro, Marie Claire, Vogue Living, The Sydney Morning Herald, Good Weekend Magazine, The Weekend Australian Magazine, Company Director, Habitus, Indesign, Monument.
Her long list of clients includes HBO, Stan, Tribeca Film, Universal Music, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Warner Bros, MTV, ABC, SBS, Channel 9, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre and Griffin Theatre, Grey (New York), McCann (Australia), Clemenger BBDO, Ogilvy, Havas, BMF. In the property sector, she has worked with Westfield New York, Scentre Group, QIC, Lend Lease, Mirvac, Walker Corporation, Charter Hall, Dexus Property Group, Cbus Property, Rydges Hotels & Resorts.
She has also been commissioned to apply her cinematic eye to capture special architectural projects in both Australia, the USA, and The Netherlands.
Known for her cinematic lighting and her ability to capture the human spirit in an arresting way, Alina has been commissioned to create portraits of industry leaders and notable figures like Scott Farquhar, Frank Lowy, Andrew Forrest, Anthony Pratt, Kevin Rudd, Christine Lagarde, Judith Neilson, Gretel Packer, Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins & Cliff Obrecht, Apollo 16 Astronaut Charles Duke, South Park's creators Trey Parker & Matt Stone; Oscar winners Alicia Vikander and Emile Sherman, and actors like Ewan McGregor, Michael Shannon, Anthony LaPaglia, Ashley Zuckerman, Rafe Spall, Christina Ricci, Josh Charles, Julia Stiles, Alicia Silverstone, Sandra Oh, Anne Heche, Susie Porter to mention a few.
As a speaker and educator, Alina’s international teaching experience includes teaching master classes and keynote speaking engagements at The University of Technology Sydney (UTS), New York Film Academy in New York, the Australian Centre of Photography, the Australian Film Television & Radio School in Sydney, NYC Workshop, MINI, Deloitte, Cox Architecture, PwC, Charter Hall to mention a few. Alina is known for THE ART OF SEEING , her creative intelligence training sessions and keynote.
In December 2023, Alina was appointed as an Industry Advisory Board Member at UTS - TD SCHOOL (Transdisciplinary Innovation)
Alina works with community organisations that focus on helping underprivileged youth because she passionately believes that one’s life can be dramatically changed for the better with the right help. She’s worked with charities such as Art Start in NY, I-Manifest and MMAD in partnership with Universal Music in Sydney. She has also done work with R U OK and The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation.
In November 2021, Alina was part of the TEDxSydney exploring the topic of Belonging and Creativity: Lessons in Creativity: What can business leaders learn from top creative thinkers?
In March 2024, Alina is opening her new solo exhibition SYDNEY LOVE STORIES; she is also set to direct in New York Ava, a short drama film based on her acclaimed solo exhibition The Doormen of New York . Alina is also in development for a TV series based on her original idea and artwork.
Talking Points
Cultivate Creative Intelligence with The Art of Seeing
Creativity is a precursor to Innovation!Cultivate Creative Intelligence with The Art of Seeing
Alina Gozin’a presents the Art of Seeing as captivating keynote or an enriching training session; it links Creativity, Creative Intelligence and Innovation.
Creativity is a precursor to innovation! Learning how to tap into creativity & non-linear thinking via your right brain hemisphere will enable you to perceive ordinary things in new ways; this ability to see the world through a new lens is the key to a successful, innovative mind! Storytelling, point of view, empathy and trust are some of the other key points explored in The Art of Seeing. These sessions invite you and your organisation to tap into and sharpen your creative intelligence!
The Art of Seeing will open your eyes to the pivotal role creativity and lateral thinking play in your profession. It invites you to embrace your creativity rather than dismiss it !
Committed to guiding you in harnessing the powerful tool of storytelling, Alina will take you ‘behind the scenes’ of the global campaigns she executed, her artworks and some of the most iconic AFR Magazine cover photoshoots she captured, featuring notable personalities like Scott Farquhar, Melanie Perkins, Frank Lowy, Andrew Forrest, Judith Neilson, Christine Lagarde, Anthony Pratt, Michael Shannon, Ewan McGregor, Alicia Vikander to mention a few.
Witness Alina’s artistry and learn how to use storytelling to create and communicate powerful messages, where The Art of Seeing truly excels.
Takeaways:
-Learn how to see ordinary things in new ways, which is a hallmark of innovation!
-Harness your creativity rather than dismiss it!
-Realise the importance of non-linear, creative, lateral thinking to your profession & the business world!
Video
Alina Gozin'a | Saxton Speakers
In this video, internationally renowned storyteller and photographer Alina Gozin’a shares an intimate look into her creative process. Alina recounts her transformative experience photographing Frank Lowy, founder of Westfield, revealing her unique approach to capturing legacy through powerful imagery. With anecdotes of determination, creativity, and a deep commitment to honouring her subject's humanity, Alina illustrates how she crafts stories that resonate forever.Alina Gozin'a showcased the 'Art of Seeing' to a group of over 400 people for our International Women's Day 2022 conference. I was privileged to host what was to be a very powerful represent ... keep reading Stock Exchange
The Art of Seeing workshop was a truly immersive experience that exceeded my expectations. Both Alina and Shane presented the right mix of theory, practical demonstration and anecdotes through a photographer's lens that was not only highly relevant but also extremely translatable to an audience of professional consultants. I received a lot of positive feedback about the session particularly around the refreshingly different perspective it provided to those who attended and the energy and enthusiasm of the presenters.Thanks Alina and Shane for such an engaging, interactive and thought provoking experience.
Seeing through the lens of Alina is like switching from black and white to technicolor. A prodigiously talented photographer and artist, Cox were privileged to experience her 'Art of Seeing' talk. She wove her incredible journey from Russia via Europe and New York to Australia throughout. Entertaining, insightful, and instructive. Her unique methodology resonated deeply with our studio.
Alina presented The Art of Seeing at New Chambers to an audience of barristers, solicitors and litigation funders. As a group of professionals normally accustomed to focussing on depth and detail, Alina's talk sparked everyone's imagination and pivoted their point of view in the most unexpected of ways. She drew attention to the beauty and complexity that can be found in the surface layer. Alina's talk was inspiring and a lot of fun. What was meant to be an hour keynote, evolved into an interactive session where every attendee was engaged.
In ‘The Art of Seeing’, Alina paints a world that is unseen. She is an engaging storyteller, whose sessions draw on global expertise and unique experiences, filled with empathy, humour and passion. Alina takes us on a journey behind the scenes of the camera into the pulse of what it takes to live with a creative mindset, tapping into the subtle voice of intuition. During this experience you will hone your creative intelligence by experiencing paradoxical tensions of risk and trust, reaction versus response. Walking this tightrope is quintessential to the pulse of innovation. You will realise the importance of creativity and lateral thinking to your profession, walk out charged with creative energy and methods for seeing your world anew.
Alina's workshop was nothing short of amazing. Her exceptional storytelling skills and innate ability to reveal the beauty of creativity through everyday observations were awe-inspiring. As a world-famous and accomplished multidisciplinary artist, Alina effortlessly demonstrated how to perceive the world from a fresh and imaginative perspective. Her captivating presence and powerful storytelling effortlessly held the entire room spellbound. Alina's ability to ignite the audience's imagination and inspire them to see the world through new eyes was truly remarkable. She is a true master of her craft, and her workshop left an indelible impression on all those fortunate enough to attend.
We had 60 people who attended Alina’s talk and everyone really enjoyed her session. It was different, real and insightful. Most thought Alina was very funny, impressive and engaging!
We have recieved positive feedback from the attendees and value the contribution of your time, talent and message around the theme of inspiring inclusion. Thank you for sharing your personal and professional experience and for demonstrating such strong leadership in the work you are doing. Everyone loved the dynamic visual pesentation of images and music which helped our audience to gain sucha valuable isnight into how women have been portrayed and the change that has occurred and still requires out vigilance.
