Russian-born artist goes to town

Photo supplied.
Photo supplied.
The Collector (2013) is one of 15 oil-on-canvas originals by Waiheke Island artist Ilya Volykhine in his new exhibition ''Far From Home'', showing at the ArtBay Gallery from July 11 to 25.

The 45-year-old self-taught Russian-born artist presents his second solo show in the gallery in the Mountaineer building, Queenstown, after his debut exhibition featuring oils on paper was a hit last year.

Volykhine said yesterday his new series of 15 oil paintings on canvas focused on time spent in cities: travelling from St Petersburg, Russia, to New York City, to Paris, to Sydney, Australia, and on to Auckland.

''It's all about life in town, lots of new feelings - you don't know what's going to happen.''

he said.

Originally trained in mining engineering, Volykhine said his daily visits to the Hermitage museum at St Petersburg and artistic friends encouraged him to take up drawing and painting as a career. He now exhibits regularly throughout New Zealand, as well as having work in collections around the world.

The artist will be painting inside the gallery on July 20 and 21.

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