Michael Garmash was born in 1969 in Lugansk, Ukraine. He began painting at the age of three and by six started his formal education at the Lugansk Youth Creative Center. His works were sent by his teachers to a variety of Exhibitions in Ukraine, Russia, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Michael received first prizes at several juried Exhibitions, including the Lugansk Regional Juried Exhibition-1977 (Best Poster), the Czechoslovakian International Youth Competition-1978, and the Hungarian International Art Competition of Circus Related Art-1978.

In 1987, he graduated valedictorian from the Lugansk State Fine Art College and started teaching there the following year. From 1989 to 1991, he served in the army and in 1992 began studying at the St. Petersburg Academy of Art. Michael graduated from this prestigious school five years later at the head of his class.

1977 was a memorable year. A documentary about outstanding achievers in art, featuring Valueva, was shown in movie theaters across Russia. The same year she was highlighted on the front page of a popular monthly magazine "Soviet Union". Few realize achieving this fame in their lifetime, much less as a youngster.

During his student years, Michael started exhibiting in France, at galleries in such cities as Paris, St. Etienne, Avignon, Lion and Marcel. Michael also took part in the annual Exhibitions in St. Petersburg, Russia. In addition to painting, Michael has also excelled in the creation of stained-glass windows and received an honorary medal for his work in the Suvorov Military Museum in St. Petersburg.

Inessa Kitaichik was born in 1972 in Lipetsk, Russia. Since early childhood she has excelled in ballet, gymnastics and music. Inessa attended classes in all three disciplines and, after graduating from music and ballet school, entered the Lugansk Fine Art School at age fifteen. At seventeen she was accepted as that year's best undergraduate to the Lugansk State Fine Art School.