Kira Poliakova / Keerah
3D animator, 3D generalist, Houdini artist
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Professional Summary
Seasoned 3D/motion graphics artist with decades of media & entertainment production experience, spanning everything from razor‑sharp editing and fluid animation to photorealistic visualization and jaw‑dropping VFX.
Possess a wide‑range skill set from traditional compositing to procedural code‑driven pipelines, that lets me turn tangled concepts into clean, enjoyable experiences. Known for strong technical chops, relentless problem‑solving, deep research and unmatched creativity.
In short, I’m the “Swiss‑army knife” of digital creation.
Core Competencies
3D animation and VFX: Keyframe/procedural animation and mocap. Pyro, Particles, RBD, Vellum, crowds.
Texturing and shading: PBR workflow, procedural shading, texturing and UV mapping.
Modeling & Sculpting: Hi-poly/low-poly, procedural modelling with Houdini.
Rigging: Character and mechanical rigging in Houdini (procedural with KineFX and APEX) and Cinema 4D.
Lighting and Rendering: Redshift, Karma, Octane, Houdini Solaris.
Editing: 3D compositing, Motion graphics, Video editing, Audio mixing. Video compression, video formats, video codecs.
Other: Storytelling, problem solving, hardware, research, cross-functional teams, personal knowledge management and non-stop self-directed study.
Texturing and shading: PBR workflow, procedural shading, texturing and UV mapping.
Modeling & Sculpting: Hi-poly/low-poly, procedural modelling with Houdini.
Rigging: Character and mechanical rigging in Houdini (procedural with KineFX and APEX) and Cinema 4D.
Lighting and Rendering: Redshift, Karma, Octane, Houdini Solaris.
Editing: 3D compositing, Motion graphics, Video editing, Audio mixing. Video compression, video formats, video codecs.
Other: Storytelling, problem solving, hardware, research, cross-functional teams, personal knowledge management and non-stop self-directed study.
Software proficiency
Modeling/sculpting: SideFX Houdini, Maxon Cinema 4D, some Blender and Zbrush.
Texturing: Affinity, Photoshop, Some Zbrush.
Rendering: Redshift, Karma, Octane, Houdini Solaris.
Compositing and 2D animation: Adobe After Effects, some Nuke and Fusion.
3D Characters: DAZ Studio.
Scripting/automation: FFmpeg, Batch, Python (including OOP & Async), JS, AfterEffects API.
Tracking: Boris FX Mocha, Sytheyes.
Photogrammetry: Reality capture.
Audio mixing: Adobe Audition, Ableton DAW.
Texturing: Affinity, Photoshop, Some Zbrush.
Rendering: Redshift, Karma, Octane, Houdini Solaris.
Compositing and 2D animation: Adobe After Effects, some Nuke and Fusion.
3D Characters: DAZ Studio.
Scripting/automation: FFmpeg, Batch, Python (including OOP & Async), JS, AfterEffects API.
Tracking: Boris FX Mocha, Sytheyes.
Photogrammetry: Reality capture.
Audio mixing: Adobe Audition, Ableton DAW.
Professional Experience
3D Animator
July 2024 - now
Zack D Films, Remote, Austin, TX, USA
July 2024 - now
Zack D Films, Remote, Austin, TX, USA
Partnering with a cross-functional team to deliver a steady stream of viral explainer videos reaching tens of millions of viewers, where ongoing improvements in 3D modeling, character animation, and VFX consistently elevate the narrative impact.
3D Generalist, Houdini Artist, VFX Artist
March 2022 - now
Self-employed, Brooklyn, NY, USA
March 2022 - now
Self-employed, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Delivered VFX and visualization assets for global film/TV productions. Developed a number of open-source projects related to video compression, 3D compositing workflow. Advanced my proficiency in SideFX Houdini and Python.
CG Generalist, Video Editor
January 2016 - February 2022
Self-employed, Moscow, Russia
January 2016 - February 2022
Self-employed, Moscow, Russia
Executed diverse 3D and VFX projects for global clients, including four feature-length productions and large-scale stage visuals. Expanded technical impact by developing open-source compression/compositing tools and supporting a bestselling transition pack on Videohive, bridging the gap between artistic delivery and product development.
CG Artist, Compositor, Video Editor
October 2012 - December 2015
RSS production, film company, Moscow, Russia
Developed assets for entertainment projects, live shows, presentations, stage visuals, video mapping, and full-feature films, including 3D-stereoscopic content.
October 2012 - December 2015
RSS production, film company, Moscow, Russia
Developed assets for entertainment projects, live shows, presentations, stage visuals, video mapping, and full-feature films, including 3D-stereoscopic content.
Motion Graphic Designer, Video Editor
October 2011 - October 2012
Self-employed, Murmansk, Russia
October 2011 - October 2012
Self-employed, Murmansk, Russia
Broadcast Designer, TV Director, TV Producer, Video Editor
February 2009 - October 2011
Arctic-TV, Murmansk, Russia
February 2009 - October 2011
Arctic-TV, Murmansk, Russia
Video Editor, Broadcast Designer
March 2000 - February 2009
TVH, Kirovsk, Russia
March 2000 - February 2009
TVH, Kirovsk, Russia
Education
High school with an associate’s degree in Computer Science and Programming. I am continuously advancing expertise in CG and VFX through self-directed study and iterative refinement on global film/TV productions.