"Pastel Portraits II" Drawing

“I always prefer working from life – whether it’s a landscape, a portrait, or a figurative composition. It’s a kind of energy exchange you simply can’t capture from a photograph or any other source. It’s like a live conversation compared to exchanging text messages.”

I am a contemporary Ukrainian artist based in Lviv, born in 1961, working primarily in oil painting and pastel drawing. For over four decades, I have dedicated my practice to figurative art, expressive landscapes, cityscapes, and nude studies, always working directly from life. Plein air painting remains central to my artistic philosophy - it allows me to capture the atmosphere, light, and emotional presence of a moment with authenticity and immediacy.

My early works were strongly influenced by symbolism, philosophical themes, and esoteric reflection, placing me within the broader tradition of Eastern European expressive painting. Over time, my style evolved toward bold, color-driven compositions marked by post-impressionistic energy and dynamic brushwork. My oil paintings often feature vibrant urban landscapes, Lviv cityscapes, and emotionally charged natural scenes, while my pastel works explore the human figure through expressive line, movement, and intimate psychological nuance.

Across all genres - landscape painting, figurative art, portrait drawing, and contemporary cityscape - light and atmosphere remain my primary subjects. I am particularly interested in the emotional dialogue between the viewer and the painted space. My work combines painterly spontaneity with technical discipline, resulting in artworks that feel both immediate and deeply considered.

My paintings and drawings are held in private art collections across Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. I have exhibited internationally in Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, and the USA, and I am represented by galleries in Ukraine and Poland. As an established Ukrainian contemporary painter, I continue to explore the intersection of tradition and expressive modern painting.