Viktor Shvaiko

Viktor Shvaiko

Born in Altai, one of Russia ‘s most remote and off-the-beaten-track towns, Viktor Shvaiko grew up surrounded by the beauty of the wilderness. His natural inclination for fine arts and his strong urge to share his vision of nature drove him to find a way into the Novoaltaisk Artistic School, one of the two best schools for the arts in the former Soviet Union. Four years of strenuous studies enabled Viktor, a very diligent student, to acquire the skills of a true artist.

Viktor credits his teacher, Ilbek Khairoullinov, for a true fine arts education. A strict regimen of drawing, an intricate technique of using colors, and the influence of the 19th century Russian artist Karl Brynllow brought Viktor Shvaiko close to a traditional academic style of painting. After having attained technical excellence in the manner of these traditional influences, the artist now possessed the tools with which to express his feelings to the world. At this point, Viktor’s main focus became the beautiful Altai landscapes.

The Shvaiko family then moved to Transkarpathia, the western mountainous portion of Ukraine. There Viktor became enchanted with the picturesque and breathtakingly beautiful countryside. He continued to paint and was invited to show in two one-person expositions in Moukachevo in 1990 and a group exhibition in Hungary in 1991.

Shvaiko chafed under the stifling effect that the lingering Russian bureaucracy had on the careers of young artists. Unable to get a visa to a Western country, Viktor was permitted to travel to Yugoslavia. In the confusion of the civil war, he fled to Italy with his paintings strapped to his back, often encountering gunfire from roving bands of militia.

Having arrived in Italy virtually penniless, Viktor survived by selling his paintings on the streets of Rome. He managed to build a following for himself, and save some money. He eventually returned to a now more liberalized Russia, and was able to obtain passage to America.

Arriving in New York with little money and less English, Viktor was again able to survive by selling his work. It was here he developed his penchant for painting the little cafes and other intimate places that we see in his work today, and that have become his trademark. His enticing mix of beauty and mystery has drawn the interest and admiration of collectors from around the world.

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Sunny Terrace

VIKSHV287647

Evening in Brittany

VIKSHV283776

Venice in Bloom

VIKSHV164255

Twilight On the Canal

VIKSHV164254

The Crowne Pub

VIKSHV164253

Spring in Santorini

VIKSHV164252

Santorini Sea Breeze

VIKSHV164251

Porterhouse Central

VIKSHV164250

Piazza d Viterbo B

VIKSHV164248

Morning Mist in Venice

VIKSHV164247

La Consulat

VIKSHV164246

La Boheme

VIKSHV164245

La Bella Notte

VIKSHV164244

Romeo And Juliet

VIKSHV139142

Prince Of Wales

VIKSHV139141

Our Special Place In Venice

VIKSHV139140

Colors Of Tuscany

VIKSHV139139

Canal And Cappuccino

VIKSHV139138

Campo de L’Arsenala

VIKSHV139137

Venetian Rendezvous

VIKSHV104700

Savoie

VIKSHV104699

Afternoon on the Aegean Sea

VIKSHV104611

Evening of Romance

VIKSHV96232

Le Baron Rouge

VIKSHV84786

Three For Santorini

VIKSHV84695

Moonrise Venice

VIKSHV84694

La Fonda

VIKSHV84693

Crepe & Cie

VIKSHV84692

Auberge De Savoie Restaurant

VIKSHV84691

Winter Fairytale

VIKSHV84561

Windows Ol Italy

VIKSHV84560

Windows Ol France

VIKSHV84559