About the Artist: Tatiana Tatum

June 2026 Issue
About the Cover Artist — Tatiana Tatum
by Lindsay Gifford

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be on Pink Magazine’s cover!” Those were the words we heard first when we reached out to talented Beaufort, SC, artist Tatiana Tatum…and we couldn’t be more excited to bring that dream to fruition.

Originally from Russia, Tatiana immigrated to the US when she was 28 years old. After visiting back-and-forth between their respective countries, her husband (then boyfriend) Sam and she decided to close the gap and found their mutual home and married bliss in Beaufort.

Holding a master’s degree in chemistry, Tatiana isn’t your typical artist. Growing up with a scientific mind, art wasn’t even a hobby, it was more like a hidden desire. And, after arriving in a new place, she suddenly had more free time and decided there was nothing to fear.

With the Lowcountry’s appreciation for the arts, Tatiana’s talent bloomed, alongside the possibility of supporting herself through her newfound passion. In 2021, she joined the local Thibault Gallery and a studio art program at USCB. After graduating in 2024, she embraced life as a full-time artist doing shows, markets, public art, and workshops. You can find touches of Tatiana’s artworks and murals all over our “slice of paradise” including: Sister Sister Deli, Charleston Pour House, USCB Center for the Arts, KOA Point South, and Parlor Donuts.

Tatiana began her art journey working in watercolors and then progressed into oils, appreciating their freedom in treating colors. She loves creating interactive works where her audience can participate in artwork like her series that looks like finger drawings on foggy windows. The scenes are obscure and blurred with doodles that reveal tiny bits of what is hidden. “I sometimes create interactive pieces where people can leave their own finger drawings—and later I transfer them into paintings. Collecting these doodles from the audience gives me a sense of connection with our community and the scene,” said Tatiana.

She finds inspiration all around her, especially in Beaufort. “I like to think of Beaufort as one of the materials, just like paint or canvas. Sights, colors, stories, and friendships—all of it goes into my work,” Tatiana explained. She often creates scenes that interact with water. Her imagery originates from photographs she takes by combining curated staged scenes with found moments. She enjoys focusing on light and atmospheric effects building the surface in layers and then works reductively by removing wet paint to reveal fully dried renderings beneath.

This month’s cover, “Salt & Soul”—aptly named after Pink's magazine theme this month—features a reoccurring scene of two mermaids, chilling on the dock. “It’s not a pure fantasy; I saw it with my own eyes! A couple girls, probably doing a “mermaid swim” for a bachelorette party or some other celebration, chilling on the dock with tails still on. Baggy t-shirts, hats, sunburned cheeks, a cold beer. I thought to myself—this is SO BEAUFORT. We’re all a little amphibious here—spending life in and out of the water!” When viewers saw her work featuring her first mermaids, many exclaimed, “This is us!” and Tatiana loved the sentiment. She enjoys creating art that celebrates the space friends hold for each other, leaving room for viewers to see themselves in it. Fun fact: Tatiana often asks her friends to pose for her with fish tails—can we volunteer?

More of Tatiana’s inspired work can be viewed at www.tatianatatum.com and at Thibault Gallery, 815 Bay Street, Beaufort,
where her artwork is available for purchase. Follow her art journey on Facebook: @TatianaTatum and Instagram:@tati_tatum.