Nadya Gurevich was born in Moscow, Russia. As a daughter of a film director dad and actress mom she developed her love of art on film at a young age having spent much of her time on film sets as a child. She relocated to the United States in 1991 with her family where she attended Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn which specializes in dramatic and visual arts.
After high school, she earned her BFA in art history at New York University and an Interior Design Certificate from Parsons School of Design. She began her career in film by working on student films as a production designer eventually transitioning into set decorating and designing for independent and major film, television and advertising.
Her most recent projects include decorating the pilot for the critically acclaimed FOX TV series “Prodigal Son” as well as buying for such shows as “Hunters”, “Katy Keene” as well as Oscar and Golden Globe winning “BlacKkKlansman” and Oscar nominated “First Reformed”. In 2018 Nadya also won a News and Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Lighting and Scenic Design for a period crime recreation show “A Crime to Remember”.
Nadya resides in Brooklyn with her photographer husband and young son. In 2021, Nadya, along with her husband, launched an online photo stock agency focusing on cleared photography for film and television named Strummerstock after their son.
Nadya Gurevich's Project Showcase
Q&A with Nadya Gurevich
Q.
What was the first project you worked on?
A.
After doing several student films as a production designer my first big project was a Russian reality show called HUNGER which was shot on a stage at Silvercup Studios. Because it was a 24-hour production where the cast lived at the stage I was on call and kept a cot in my office. I was a one-woman art department and a go between the Russian and American production side. We built a rooftop garden and gym on the roof of Silvercup where I had to hire a graffiti artist, find a fencing company and plant magnolia trees among the many crazy demands all without proper assistance or set dressers. To this day I do not understand how I pulled it all off, but it was an amazing learning experience.
Q.
What is the best thing about shopping in person?
A.
Being able to see, touch and feel things in person. Scale is very important and often when you buy things online that part can be deceiving. I also love the thrill of a hunt of finding just the right lamp in the most obscure thrift shop in the middle of nowhere. Every time I travel I make sure to make a stop at an antique store in town. I guess I am a shopping addict.
Q.
Who is your role model and why?
A.
My mother. She changed her life at 42 when she moved to the United States from Russia. She had to give up her cushy life and sacrifice her happiness to give me a better future.
Q.
What do you consider to be your career highlight?
A.
Being nominated and winning a News and Documentary Emmy for the Best Art Direction in 2018, a week after the birth of my son, for my work along with the wonderful production designer Deana Sidney for an episode of a show we spent 4 seasons working on, A Crime to Remember.
Q.
Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
A.
Don’t be scared of the unknown. Dive in and watch what happens. There is a great saying in Russian: Those who don’t dare don’t get to drink champagne. I certainly did not take enough risks until I got older.
Q.
What are three things you can’t live without?
A.
iPhone, comfortable but sexy shoes, & red lipstick.
Q.
Favorite city to recharge?
A.
Montauk.
Q.
What’s one thing that is always in your refrigerator?
A.
Lox and vegan cream cheese.
Q.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A.
An actress, of course.
Q.
Most embarrassing song on your Spotify?
A.
Russian dance music.
