Biography of Leonid Afremov

July 12, 1955 Leonid Afremov is a modern Impressionist painter, born in Vitebsk (Belarus, former USSR) on 12 July 1955 to Jewish parents. Known as an independent artist, which promotes and sells his work primarily on the internet, Afremov has an unmistakable style. Using a palette knife to paint and oil paint, make his paintings (landscapes, city scenes and seascapes, portraits) immediately recognizable.

Arts & discrimination

The father, Arkadiy Afremov, Shoemaker and designer of shoes, Beautiful Afremova, and his mother worked in a metal factory, despite the difficulties caused by the anti-Semitic policy of the Government, raising the son according to Jewish tradition. Leonid, art lover from an early age and encouraged by parents who recognize the talent, studying art and graphics at the Vitebsk art school where he obtained excellent results. In these early years of training, he discovered the works of painters such as Picasso, Dalí, Chagall (born himself in Vitebsk) and Modigliani influencing his early works and current approaches what is one of the world's most famous painting in the art scene: theImpressionism. In 1975 Leonid Afremov know Inessa Kagan, who married the following year and by whom he has two sons, Dmitry and Boris. Early in his career, after graduating, he worked in several fields like designer logos and as an art director at a local theater. In 1980 work as free lance for municipal companies and schools, builds walls-themed events and even propaganda posters but his Jewish roots do not allow them to be part of local artistic associations. His works are not very successful and his works are sold largely privately thanks to family and friends. In 1986 the environmental disaster of Chernobyl (just a few hundred kilometres of Vitebsk) and the continuing racial discrimination suffered, pushing Leonid Afremov moved with his family to Israel taking advantage of the fact that following the laws of Gorbachev, Soviet citizens Jews have the possibility to migrate to this State. His condition as extremely miserable deals Israeli immigrant and galleries for the purchase of his works, the painter, despised and marginalised, to seek buyers in street fairs and local social clubs. In recent years Leonid Afremov works mostly with watercolors and acrylic, not using almost the spatula. The precarious economic situation of the family forces also Dmitry, the son of 16 years, to sell his father's paintings door to door. This move proves unexpectedly fruitful, so that in 1995 Leonid Afremov has enough money to open his own art gallery (which is damaged repeatedly) and a shop to Ashdod. It was during this period that starts using a palette knife to paint, thus developing his own style. In 1999 Afremov know the pianist and composer Leonid Ptashka. Their friendship is not only an inspiration for a series of paintings depicting popular jazz musicians, but allows the painter to set up an exhibit at the International Jazz Festival in Ashdod. Seems to be a golden moment for the artist, until a further act of vandalism within his gallery, destroying some paintings and the subtraction of tools, are pushing Israel to abandon and move Leonid Afremov in United States (2002).

... find America!

In New York art galleries show greater interest in Jewish themed paintings and portraits of great musicians, thus limiting the creativity of Leonid located, forced by material needs, to limit its output according to demand and expectations of the American public. When he moved to Fort Lauderdale (Florida), the situation is no different, the tunnels are only interested in the work that they have a response in the market and that can be sold without any problems. The turning point for Leonid Afremov occurs in 2004. His son Boris thinks to promote the works of the father over the internet, through the eBaysale. Success finally smiles at this artist, sales and appreciation for his work grow exponentially and Leonid can afford to paint what he wants. His works, which are defined in various talk shows relaxing, used in psychotherapy for stress reduction. In 2007 Leonid Afremov promotes her personal website, run by children. His paintings, with their warm colours and inflamed, they capture the viewer's attention by transmitting sensations and emotions, leaving to the sensitivity of each the opportunity to imagine the story that is told in silence within. Various paintings subjects: animals, dancers, musicians, flowers and common objects, city and many landscapes where individual figures, more or less solitary, strolling under the warm shower of color that does not communicate sadness or loneliness, but that suggests hope for everyone there is a way illuminated by a thousand bright lights.

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