Born in 1968 in Odessa, Ukraine, Irina Levandovskaya began painting from a young age. Her skill was recognized almost immediately and her parents sent her to a school for artistically gifted children when she was twelve years old. In 1986 Levandovskaya was accepted to the prestigious art college, Serov, in St. Petersburg in Russia to study fine art. Upon completing her studies there, she continued her formal training at the Repin Art Academy in 1991. Officially concluding her training there in 2000, Levandovskaya was received into the public art world with acclaim. The following year she was awarded the highest honors at a juried exhibition and was named the “Best New Upcoming Talent” in the fine art division.