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 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".

I think that being smart without great sense of homour is a waste. I also think not being humble in a genuine senes is a waste of success.

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). 

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
TRANSdisciplinary ARTIST & CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE INTRAPRENEUR

ALINA GOZIN’A

TRANSDISCIPLINARY ARTIST & CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE INTRAPRENEUR

“From Tax Advisor at PwC to Cannes Lions–Nominated Director — a rare career blending corporate precision with bold creative vision.”

Alina Gozin’a holds a distinctive place in Australia’s cultural landscape. She began her career as a Tax Advisor in Banking & Finance at PwC before making an unusual but inspired transition into the creative industries, becoming a Cannes Lions–nominated Director, award-winning Photographer, Artist, and recognised thought leader in Creative Intelligence. She is an Advisory Board Member at the TD School, University of Technology Sydney (Creative Intelligence & Innovation).

Her transdisciplinary career, spanning art, photography, film, and cultural transformation, has been internationally acclaimed, echoing the spirit of the Renaissance, when art, science, and cultural change worked hand in hand to shape humanity’s progress.

Born in Odessa, Alina has built a prolific global practice across Sydney, New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Hamburg. Her work and ideas have been featured by TEDxSydney, ABC News Breakfast, Australian Financial Review Magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC National Radio, SBS Radio, and numerous other publications and podcasts.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Alina has been commissioned to photograph some of the world’s most influential leaders, including Scott Farquhar, Frank Lowy, Andrew Forrest, Anthony Pratt, Gretel Packer, Judith Neilson, Christine Lagarde, Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, Sam Mostyn AC, the Governor-General of Australia, Apollo 16 Astronaut Charles Duke, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, Alicia Vikander, Ewan McGregor, Michael Shannon, Anthony LaPaglia, and Ashley Zuckerman, among many others.

Her photography has appeared in The Australian Financial Review Magazine, The FIN, Forbes, WISH Magazine, Tatler Asia, WIRED UK, Madame Figaro, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Vogue Living, Marie Claire, Good Weekend, The Weekend Australian Magazine, Executive Style, Vulture, FilmInk, Inside Film, Encore, Vogue Entertainment & Travel, Habitus, Indesign, Monument, Home Beautiful, House & Garden, Real Living, and Astonished.

She has photographed and directed campaigns in New York and Sydney for leading corporations including HBO, StudioCanal, Stan, Tribeca Film Festival, Universal Music, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Warner Bros, MTV, ABC, SBS, Channel 9, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Griffin Theatre, Grey (New York), McCann, Clemenger BBDO, Ogilvy, Havas, and BMF.

Her cinematic eye has also been commissioned for property and architectural projects in Australia, the USA, and The Netherlands, with clients such as Cox Architecture, UN Studios (Netherlands), Time & Place, Acqualand, QIC, Dekka, Winton Group, Westfield New York, Scentre Group, Lend Lease, Mirvac, Walker Corporation, Charter Hall, Dexus, Cbus Property, Australand, Denwol Group, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, and EAST Hotel.

Alina’s photography and art have earned numerous awards, including Gold at the London Photographic Association Portraiture Awards for Monkey Business, which was also exhibited as a finalist at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Her work has been honoured in prestigious competitions such as Head On, the Olive Cotton Award, Sydney Life, Shoot the Chef, and the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

She is represented by Merv for photography, motion, and strategic art activations. Visit www.mervmakes.com

ART

As an artist, Alina creates large-scale photographic, brass, and luminous optical illusion works that investigate pivotal historical events and their ripple effects on humanity. She has held solo exhibitions in Sydney and New York, with her work achieving international recognition and inclusion in prestigious awards and institutions. Alina’s artworks form part of distinguished corporate and private collections, underscoring their cultural significance and lasting impact.

She is represented by Wentworth Galleries in Australia. Visit www.alinagozina.art

MOTION

As a director, Alina was nominated for the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions for her debut commercial 3 Fat Babushkas. She also directed the short documentary Life on the Rocks. In October 2025, her docudrama TV series The Rebirth—inspired by her artworks and original concept—is scheduled to enter development with a major Australian production house as an ambitious four-continent international co-production.

CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

A global advocate for the role of Creative Intelligence in an AI-powered economy, Alina delivers The Art of Seeing, her acclaimed training sessions, immersive labs, and keynotes.

She has worked with Oracle, PwC, Deloitte, Mastercard, Charter Hall, Pendal, Sydney Stock Exchange, Woollahra Council, and academic institutions including UNSW, UTS, New York Film Academy (NYFA), and AFTRS.

She lectures in Creative Intelligence and Photography in both Sydney and New York, and serves on the Advisory Board of UTS TD School at the University of Technology Sydney, the world’s pioneering faculty for Creative Intelligence & Innovation.

She is represented by Saxton Speakers Bureau for keynotes and leadership programs. Visit www.theartofseeing.agency

CONSULTING & THINK TANKS

Alina extends her expertise in storytelling, creative leadership, visual communication, and culture transformation to corporations, through both short- and long-term consulting. She recently contributed to a strategic think tank for R.M. Williams at its Sydney headquarters.

CULTURE & ENGAGEMENT

As a curator, creator, producer, and cultural strategist, Alina has designed and delivered employee engagement and cultural change initiatives for major organisations through art activations. She combines international, world-class taste-making experience with strategic insight, helping organisations curate transformative experiences that foster both impact and belonging.

COMMUNITY & PHILANTHROPY

Driven by her belief in the power of creativity to change lives, Alina partners with community organisations including Art Start (New York), I-Manifest, MMAD with Universal Music (Sydney), and the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. Her work focuses on empowering underprivileged youth through creativity, storytelling, and culture.

SELECTED CLIENTS

THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW MAGAZINE, THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW newspaper, 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
KEY ART & ON SET STILL FOR NUMEROUS 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, INDESIGN MAGAZINE, I MANIFEST, INSIDE FILM MAGAZINE, IMAGE BRIEF, INTERFACE FLOOR, LENDLEASE, LOCAL PROJECTS - NEW YORK, MADAME FIGARO MAGAZINE, M.A.D FOUNDATION, MARIE CLAIRE, MONUMENT MAGAZINE, MIRVAC, MOVIE NETWORK, McCANN.
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, SMH (THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD), SCENTRE GROUP, SCREEN AUSTRALIA, SCREEN NSW, SCREEN TIME, SEA SAW FILMS, SCENTRE GROUP (Westfield), SPARKS&HONEY NYC, SYDNEY THEATRE CO, TATLER (ASIA), THE FIN Magazine, THE SEYMOUR CENTRE, TV SERIES (USA & AUST: POSTER PRINT CAMPAIGNS & ON SET UNIT STILLS), TRANSMISSION FILMS, TRIBECCA FILMS, TROPFEST USA, 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, The Weekend Australian Magazine, WISH Magazine, WIRED UK Magazine.
SELECTED AWARDS, NOMINATIONS & EXHIBITIONS

SELECTED 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

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