Santa Barbara is the first book by Diana Markosian. A deeply personal story, the project recounts Markosian’s family history and their journey from post-soviet Russia to the United States in the mid 1990s. It mixes archival images with stage photographs, retelling the narrative from the perspective of the artists mother. The title of the book holds a dual meaning and refers both to the iconic TV show, which happened to be the first western soap aired in post-soviet Russia, and city of Santa Barbara where Markosian, her mother and brother relocated.

Alongside Markosian’s images the book also includes text by Lynda Myles, one of the original writers of the soap.