Welcome to RitaStdio. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Rita began her art education at an early age. As a teenager she moved to St. Paul, where she graduated from the University of Minnesota with the  a Bachelor 's degree in the History of Art. Rita is currently pursueing a Master's degree in Art History at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Rita also spent a year in Italy, in Florence, a city renowned for its artistic past. There she attended the Florence Academy of Art, studying to become a professional realist artist. Left: Portrait of  my mom, Tatyana Rita Berg, portrait artist.