Valery Vinokurov

The cubism of Pablo Picasso and the overlapping imagery found in the surrealism of Marc Chagall merge in Valery Vinokurov’s thought-provoking artwork.  Although figurative, Vinokurov’s paintings are creative explorations of shape.  He dissects shapes into more shapes, playing with the way we perceive objects. Groups of people are the predominate subject matter of Vinokurov’s paintings.  Oftentimes, these people are trios of women.  Whether appearing as sisters, nudes, or musicians they exude a peaceful yet strong presence.  The cubist element to the paintings suggests the multifaceted aspect of womanhood, while the fact that three women interlock indicates a divine trinity. Although Vinokurov gives special attention to the feminine mystique, he also paints men and non-gender-specific humans.  Furthermore, music and the city are recurring themes in his work. Meditative cool colors wash Vinokurov’s canvas.  Soft blues, shy purples, dusty pinks, and brooding grays make the paintings serene and pensive.  When Vinokurov works in bright colors, he punches up his moody pastels with heavy doses of red.

Vinokurov was born in Riga, Latvia, and currently resides in western Canada.