HELLO

Hello, hello and thanks for visiting my site!
I was asked during an interview if I have a nickname and how do I define what I do....Well, friends call me Smokey and I create art and photographic portraits because I’m fascinated with humanity.

I use photography, film, and art to tell stories. I’m a “documentarian” in the sense that I capture the human spirit from all walks of life.

When I was 15, I came across a portrait of Sartre by Henri-Cartier Bresson and that's how the obsession with telling visual stories started. I use my intuition and give it my all to capture a glimpse of one’s soul, without doing any research. I’ve ended up with a sharp eye for spotting the good souls and the phonies (love this word, nails it). 

I don’t think one chooses to be an artist, I think it chooses you! It’s a journey like no other; it’s a luxury which comes at a price.....and yes, it’s worth it! I love what Oscar Wilde said: "No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist".

What rocks my world? Just like you, I'm obsessed with so many things, but if I had to pick, I definitely can't live without my family and friends, New York (my soul), European cinema, Smalls jazz bar in West Village (my local), theatre, Otto Dix (arrests me every time), BBC radio (quality), documentaries (obsessed), the sound of French and Italian (so sexy, so soulful); Nina Simone (nothing better), Rachmaninov (genius), The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac (legends), Keith Jarrett and all other tunes I'm crazy about; then there is Avedon, Kieslowski, Louis Kahn, Messerschmidt, Soviet cinema, Simon Schama, The Dick Cavett show, Almodóvar, Iñárritu, Sopranos, Kundera and Richard Ford, Dostoevsky, Remarque, Tarkovsky, Woody Allen, Malle, Scorsese, Garry Marshall, Oprah, David Letterman, The School of Life and of course James Baldwin!

But above all, I can't live without my mum's borsch! Mum Rules!
Merci & see you around.  xx Smokey

ALINA GOZIN’A
interdisciplinary ARTIST

Alina 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 Odessa (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 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.

“ALINA'S UNCOMPROMISING EYE EVOKES CINEMATIC SENTIMENT IN THE WORK SHE CREATES”.

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 ; she is represented by one of the most prestigious speaking bureau, SAXTON.

In December 2023, Alina was appointed as an Industry Advisory Board Member at UTS - TD SCHOOL (Transdiciplinary 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 www.doormenofnewyork.com . Alina is also in development for a TV series based on her original idea and artwork.

SELECTED AWARDS, NOMINATIONS & EXHIBITIONS

Alina had her first solo exhibition LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL in New York in 2015. Her second solo large-scale solo exhibition, THE DOORMEN OF NEW YORK CITY, opened in Sydney in November 2017. Her third solo large-scale exhibition, IN BLOOM, opened as solo shows in Sydney in October 2018 and has been on tour since January 2019. THE HARLEM STORIES OF THE HEART, Alina’s fourth solo exhibition, opened in March 2019 at 1 Martin Place, Sydney. CONEY LOVE opened in March 2019 in Westfield, Sydney. CONFESSIONS OF PERTH BOYS, Alina’s 6th solo exhibition, is opening in 2021. THE LAST SNOW OF NEW YORK, Alina’s 7th solo exhibition, is also due to open in mid in 2022. 

2022 IWD presentation at Sydney Stock Exchange, Sydney
2022 SYDNEY LOVE STORIES, solo exhibition with Inside Out global project ( NYC)
2021 TEDxSydney (video and article participation)
2021 B&T Best of the Best Awards 2021, Finalist
2021 Keynote speaking Charter Hall, Sydney
2021 Keynote speaking PwC, Sydney
2021 Keynote speaking Cox Architecture, Sydney
2020 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, CHARTER HALL: REBIRTH, merging brass with photographs
2019 THE HARLEM STORIES OF THE HEART - Oct -Dec 2019, Paddington (SYDNEY)
2019 IN BLOOM - SOLO EXHIBITION, 14 Sept - 14 Oct 2019, Canberra Center (Canberra)
2019 Keynote speaking Deloitte, Sydney
2019 HEAD ON PHOTO AWARDS, Semi-Finalist ( THE HARLEM STORIES OF THE HEART), May 2019 (SYDNEY)
2019 CONEY LOVE  - Westfield Bondi, March 2019 (SYDNEY)
2019 THE HARLEM STORIES OF THE HEART - SOLO EXHIBITION, 27 MARCH 2019, 1 MARTIN PLACE (SYDNEY)
2019 AGENDER - GROUP ANNUAL EXHIBITION, SUN STUDIOS, March 2019 ( SYDNEY)
2019 HARPERS IN BLOOM - SOLO EXHIBITION, 28 JANUARY 2019, AUSTRALIAN SQUARE ( SYDNEY)
2018 THIS TIME ITS PERSONAL - ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBITION, SUN STUDIOS, February 2018 (SYDNEY)
2018 THE HARLEM STORIES OF THE HEART - SOLO EXHIBITION, 333 GEORGE ST (SYDNEY) NOVEMBER-DEC 2018
2018 HARPERS IN BLOOM - SOLO EXHIBITION, 5 MARTIN PLACE, NOVEMBER 2018 ( SYDNEY)
2018 HARPERS IN BLOOM - SOLO EXHIBITION, WESTFIELD , OCTOBER 2018 ( SYDNEY)
2017  THE DOORMEN OF NEW YORK CITY - SOLO EXHIBITION, WENTWORTH GALLERIES, 27 November 2017, SYDNEY WWW.DOORMENOFNEWYORKCITY.COM
2017 THIS TIME ITS PERSONAL - ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBITION, SUN STUDIOS (SYDNEY) 2017
2017  HEAD ON, SEMI FINALIST (THE FRANK LOWY STORY)
2016  HEAD ON, SEMI FINALIST (MARLENE CUMMINS - THE BLACK PANTHERS) 
2015 CANNES LIONS, nomination for the Young Director Award for directorial debut commercial ‘3 Fat Babushkas’ 
2013 HIGHLY COMMENDED, LONDON PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION, LONDON
2012  GOLD-WINNER, LONDON PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION, LONDON
2012  NATIONAL PORTRAITURE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRIZE, FINALIST
2011 SHOOT THE CHEF PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION- SEMI FINALIST
2011 THE ART SHOW, GROUP EXHIBITION MCM HOUSE
2011 ANOTHER LANGUAGE GROUP EXHIBITION
2011 SYDNEY LIFE PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY
2010 SYDNEY LIFE PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY
2010 HEAD ON PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY
2009 OLIVE COTTON PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY
2008 OLIVE COTTON PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY
2008 HEAD ON PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY
2008 SYDNEY LIFE PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION, SYDNEY

SELECTED CLIENTS

AFR MAGAZINE ( THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW MAGAZINE)
AFR ( THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW)
ABC
ARCHITECTS ( various ) 
ACURA
AICD
ASTONISH MAGAZINE
ART START NYC
A24 FILMS
AFTRS
AUSTRALAND
BANTON GROUP
BMF
BELVOIR THEATRE
BLACKFELLA FILMS
BLUE TONGUE FILMS
CHANNEL 10  
CLEMENGER BBDO
CORDELL JIGSAW ZAPRUDER
CH 9
CHARTER HALL
CBus Property
COX ARCHITECTS
COMPANY DIRECTOR
DELOITTE
DEXUS PROPERTY GROUP
DenwoL GROUP
DARLINGHURST THEATRE
DESIGN SPACE MAGAZINE
EXECUTIVE STYLE MAGAZINE
EAST HOTEL
ENCORE MAGAZINE
ESSENTIAL MEDIA
EASY TIGER TV
FORBES
FEATURE FILMS (USA & AUST: POSTER PRINT CAMPAIGNS & ON SET UNIT STILLS) 
FLICKERFEST FILM FESTIVAL
FILMINK MAGAZINE
GQ
GOOD WEEKEND
GREY ( NEW YORK)
GOAL POST PICTURES
GRIFFIN THEATRE
HBO
HARPER'S BAZAAR
HAVAS ( FRance) 
HABITUS MAGAZINE
HOME BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE
HOUSE & GARDEN MAGAZINE
I MANIFEST
IMAGE BRIEF
INDESIGN MAGAZINE
INSIDE FILM MAGAZINE
INTERFACE FLOOR
LENDLEASE
LOCAL PROJECTS - NEW YORK
MADAME FIGARO MAGAZINE
MARIE CLAIRE
McCANN
MAD FOUNDATION
MIRVAC
MONUMENT MAGAZINE
MOVIE NETWORK
MTV
MISTR
MUSHROOM PICTURES
NIDA
OUR AGENCY
PERFORMANCE SPACE
PRODIGY FILMS
QANTAS
QIC
PwC
Pymble Ladies' College
REAL LIVING MAGAZINE
STUDIO CANALE ( LONDON, SYDNEY)
STAN
SBS
SONY MUSIC
SONY PICTURES
SCENTRE GROUP
SCREEN AUSTRALIA
SCREEN NSW
SCREEN TIME
SEA SAW FILMS
SCENTRE GROUP (Westfield)
SPARKS&HONEY NYC
SYDNEY THEATRE CO
TATLER (ASIA)
THE SEYMOUR CENTRE
TV SERIES (USA & AUST: POSTER PRINT CAMPAIGNS & ON SET UNIT STILLS) 
TRANSMISSION FILMS
TRIBECCA FILMS
TROPFEST USA
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
UN STUDIOS ARCHITECTS
UNIVERSAL MUSIC
VOGUE ENTERTAINMENT & TRAVEL
VOGUE LIVING MAGAZINE
VULTURE (NEW YORK MAGAZINE)
VCCP SYDNEY
WESTFIELD NEW YORK
WALKER CORPORATION
WARNER BROS RECORDS
WEIGHT WATCHERS
Weekend Australian Magazine
WISH Magazine

©Copyright Alina Gozin'a photographs. All rights reserved.