ELENA FLEROVA
Historical Romantic
- The works of internationally honored artist Elena
Flerova range from remarkably insightful portraits
that capture the spirit of her subjects to large-scale
monoprint paintings and oils. They also include wall murals, screens and other
interior decoration for private residences and public buildings. All of them
evoke the mystique, essence and sweep of historical and religious events and
fables.
- Born in Moscow, USSR, in 1943, Flerova graduated
with honors from the prestigious Surikov Fine
Arts Institute in 1969. Her top graduate standing won
her a scholarship to the National Academy of Fine Arts, an exclusive school
admitting only a limited number of exceptionally gifted artists. Both institutions
assisted Elena in maturing her great talent and establishing authentic academic
skills. Combined with her inherent ability to create sophisticated compositions,
these skills empowered Elena Flerova to devise unique artwork.
- The avenue in which the artist uses light and shadow,
color and composition equates her with old
European masters. All these properties are efficiently
used by Elena for conveying both mood and movement in her paintings. At the
same time, her exceptional mastery in providing the presence of vibrating air
illumination relates her with more recent impressionists. The artist refrains
from any preparatory sketches and starts working directly with brush and canvas.
This freedom distinguishes her in a favorable way from the majority of contemporary
realists working in a less dynamic manner.
- Flerova is a master monoprint painter as well as
an award-winning book and magazine illustrator,
watercolorist and etcher. In the tradition of old masters,
and unlike typical monoprint artists, Elena forges jeweler-like results by refining
her work following the transfer. Meticulous details sharpened by intense color
and provocative lighting create masterftil three-dimensional illusion.
- Over the course of her professional career, Elena
Flerova has been recognized as an exceptional talent.
She has had numerous one person shows in Europe and
North America. Her works have been shown in more than 80 national and international
exhibitions and won numerous awards and honors. Paintings by Elena Flerova are
held in many private collections in the United States and abroad.
Brother Richard G. Cannuli, O.S.A.
Chair, Department of Art and Art History
DirectoriCurator, Villanova University Art Gallery
August 12, 1998