Vladimir
Slepukhin

I always look for that perfect balance of the technical and emotional aspects of Art. I strive to make sure that my work is in sync with the splendor of Nature. I constantly catch that magical albeit elusive moment, lurking in the ever-shifting atmospheric conditions and passing light. Once I have it, I hold it in my memory until I finish a painting. I don’t lose a sense of wonder, even when the painting is finished.

The esthetics of the work I produce are extremely important to me. I appreciate the language of the texture and sculpture the oil paint layers, I forever re-invent my brush strokes.

The foundation of my painting is based on the multi-faceted heritage of the Russian Art, French Impressionism and en plein air traditions.

The words of my teacher are forever imprinted in my approach to life and art: “Nature, seeing your love and determination, will reveal you its mysteries of splendor, if you incessantly work on uncovering its essence.”

I am faithfully following traditional Art; I know it will prevail.

Biography

I was born and raised in the free and wild Don Cossack village.

After the war, my family moved to the city of Rostov-on-Don, among the ruins and starvation. The only joy of my childhood was to stare at the paintings and drawings. The first paints that I saw in my life stunned me with the intensity of their colours. Luckily for me, my generous father bought me the set of paints. It was a pivotal moment in my life - I decided to become an artist.

I painted my first serous work at the age of fourteen, producing an exact replica of the work by Viktor Vasnetsov.

At the age of fifteen I secretly enrolled into the program of the Art School. My Dad wanted me to become an engineer and so he went to the Art School to take me out of the program, but instead, the director of the Art School convinced him that Art is my true vocation.

After graduation, I left to seek futher eduction, and the best education in the country. I chose the Art School founded by Baron A.A.Shtiglitsem in St. Petersburg, Russia.

My talent and training were appreciated shortly after I finished the program, and I was entrusted important government projects.

In 1988, I was invited to Finland where I received an offer to paint Finnish landscape. The solo exhibition organized at the end of my stay in Finland was almost entirely sold before it even ended.

In 1995, I toured Massachusetts, US, exhibiting in Boston, Rockport and other cities. At the end of my tour, the authority presented me with the title of the Honourary Citizen.

In 1997, I received the "Best In Show" award for the exhibition in the US.

The Honourary Citizen Award gave me an opportunity to live and work in America, but I believed that my work has strong ties with my homeland. I am inspired by Russian and Finnish landscape, and I will never regret coming back home.

My creative interest also includes enamel painting, based on the traditions of Gzhel and Dutch Masters.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

  • 1972 Art Fund of the Union of Artists, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 1986 Stone Hall, Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 1989 Cultural Center, Kouvola, Finland
  • 1993 Cavalier Corps Hall, Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 1994-1996 Numerous Exhibition in various Cultural Centers of Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 1997 Japanese Pavilion, Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2007 Exhibition Hall, Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2009 Gallery «The Academy of Art», St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2011 «Jubilee 75», Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2012 The Scientific Research Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2016 «Jubilee 80», Lomonosov City Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2016 «Jubilee 80», Peterhof City Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

International Exhibitions

  • 1989 Cultural Center, Kouvola, Finland
  • 1995 City of Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
  • 1995 City of Bellingham, Massachusetts, USA
  • 1995 City of Rockport, Massachusetts, USA

Group Exhibitions

  • 1965 All-Union Exhibition "The Art", Moscow, Russia
  • 1977 Manege Central Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 1995-2006 Annual Exhibitions with the Association «Colorit» and the «Peter's Triangle»
  • 1994-2016 Annual Exhibitions at the "Sergey Oskolkov and His Friends" International Arts Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2004 Charitble Exhibition for the Museum of Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2004 «The Entire St. Petersburg», Manege Central Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2005 Charitble Exhibition-Auction, Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra (Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery), St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2006 Science and Culture Center of the Museum-Reserve Pushkin "Mikhailovskoe”
  • 2006 En Plein Air 2006 «The Silver Ring of Russia», Smolny Sobor Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2008-2011 Annual Exhibitions with the International Simposium «Art, Sculpture, Porcelain Painting», St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2008-2011 Annual Exhibitions, Art Studio «The House of Anjou”, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2009 «Oranienbaum, Spring Colorit», Peterhof Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2010 «The Seasons», St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2012-2014 Annual Exhibitions, Gallery «National Center», St. Petersburg, Russia

Contact Me