Biography

(1931-2008)

Leo Vitkovsky was born in 1931 in Tula town (Russia), now lives and works in Kiev. He is ukrainian painter, The Honoured Artist of Ukraine, Professor of The National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture.

The artist graduated from Dnepropetrovsk Fine Arts College (1952), then from The National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (The Kiev State Art Institute 1958), where he studied in the studio guided by academician O. Shovkunenko. Big contribution in development of the author's creative personality was made by professional pedagogues, outstanding ukrainian artists K. Trokhimenko and V. Puzirkov. Vitkovsky graduated from The Kiev State Art Institute with excellence in 1958. The diploma work – "Miners. Before Shift". Since then he is a constant participant of ukrainian and international art exhibitions and contests. Since 1963 Leo Vitkovsky is a member of The Ukrainian Union of Artists. In 1980 he was conferred the title of The Honoured Artist of Ukraine for his contribution into development of fine arts and exhibition activities. In 1997 he was honoured with a premium at the contest of historic portrait held by Kiev-Mohyla Academy for the portrait of the academy's founder – Halshka Hulevichivna. In 1998 the artist are the diplomant of the international painting plain-air in Belarus, dedicated to the memory of famous artist N. Nevrev.

Art works by Leo Vitkovsky are kept in Ukrainian museums and private collections abroad. The painting "First Builders" (1963) – in the National Ukrainian Museum of Fine Arts, the paintings "Peaceful Morning" (1965) and "Guelder-rose" (1967) – in Donetsk Museum of Fine Arts. In 1999-2000 the author took part in reconstruction of frescoes and ornaments in the interior of renewed St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral in Kiev, that was rebuilt by initiative of the Ukrainian State. Now the artist continues his professorial activities at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, where he works as a lecturer at the chair of painting and composition. Almost fifty years the artist combines his creative life with pedagogical activities as a teacher of art disciplines. A great pleiades of contemporary ukrainian authors are sincerely grateful to him for professional direction and careful assistance in the development of their artistic talents.

The author continues and develops traditions of the modern Russian and Ukrainian classical school of painting established by O. Shovkunenko and K. Trokhimenko in genres of thematic painting, portrait, landscape and still-life. He has gained the well-earned recognition and favor of wide society and art critics. High professionalism and author's artistic culture, his usage of the achievements of impressionist school resemble experiments by Eduar Manet as well as his deep philosophic and symbolic vision of life relates the artworks of Leo Vitkovsky with the pictures of Modern Epoch painters, namely the stylistic of Mikhail Nesterov. In his art studio Leo Vitkovsky creates pictures of different genres, from battle canvases and still-lives to landscapes and portraits. Among his recent interesting works – the portrait-confession full of lyric sadness "Ukrainian Woman" (2001) which depicts artist's wife as well as the portraits of eminent Ukrainian opera singer Dmitriy Hnatiuk (2001) and well known sculptor Michailo Lisenko (2003).