Alexander Volkov

graduated from the Department of Physics at Leningrad State University. Following graduation, Alexander worked as an animator at Leningrad Studio of Science Films and later as a stage artist in a small Leningrad theatre. In 1981 he began to exhibit his paintings with a group of 200 Leningrad artists known as the “Brotherhood of Experimental Arts“, a conglomeration of “underground” art groups active in Leningrad at the time. Later, he joined a splinter group called “Ostrov” or “Island” which united 30 artists who felt that, ideologically, their work was neither socialist realism nor extreme avant garde. With his unique vision, he merges mood and atmosphere, evoking powerful emotions that create harmony. “There is no greater mystery to me than the conflict of light and dark. In the way they clash and penetrate each other, there is the source of everything. Whether I paint a landscape, a still-life or a portrait, within it there is always a story of light traveling through darkness.“ Alexander paints landscapes, portraits and genre paintings and is available for commission. He lives with his partner composer Heidi Breyer, in Frenchtown and altogether they have five children. American oil painter who was born in St. Petersburg in 1960 and has lived and worked in Hunterdon County for 25 years. He started painting with oil as a high school student. From the age of 7 to 17 he attended a special English school and in 1986 graduated from the Department of Physics at Leningrad State University. Following graduation, Alexander worked as an animator at Leningrad Studio of Science Films and later as a stage artist in a small Leningrad theatre. In 1981 he began to exhibit his paintings with a group of 200 Leningrad artists known as the “Brotherhood of Experimental Arts“, a conglomeration of “underground” art groups active in Leningrad at the time. Later, he joined a splinter group called “Ostrov” or “Island” which united 30 artists who felt that, ideologically, their work was neither socialist realism nor extreme avant garde. With his unique vision, he merges mood and atmosphere, evoking powerful emotions that create harmony. “There is no greater mystery to me than the conflict of light and dark. In the way they clash and penetrate each other, there is the source of everything. Whether I paint a landscape, a still-life or a portrait, within it there is always a story of light traveling through darkness.” Alexander paints landscapes, portraits and genre paintings and is available for commission. He lives with his partner composer Heidi Breyer, in Frenchtown and altogether they have five children.