“Color has always been a mystery to me,” says Ukrainian artist Igor Lipskykh. “Perhaps that is why I pay so much attention to it. It seems to me that color is the first thing we perceive when looking at a painting. Therefore, I strive to make it interesting.”

Portrait in Turn, oil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 173/4 x 133/4"

 

Lipskykh’s figurative paintings are a dream-like blend of realism and abstraction, his subjects and backdrops rendered in unexpected yet harmonious hues. “I approach color in my works in different ways,” he continues. “At the beginning, there were experiments in Photoshop, and it was quite a long period, then it all overlapped with experiments with paint and material, markers, sprays, acrylic, oil, collage. All [of these things] complemented each other. It added some new colors and shades to my palette. Usually, at the beginning, I make at least a rough version on my iPad, working with a photo, and only then go to the canvas. Often, the color scheme on the canvas changes beyond recognition, but I have something to start with.”

Among White Flowers, oil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 31½ x 233⁄5"

 

The artist will be showing his latest body of work at Ryan Graff Contemporary in San Francisco beginning the first week of December. Striking new pieces like Portrait in Turn, Woman in Striped Shorts, Among White Flowers and Portrait in Rainbow Colours all implement a variety of media, including oil, acrylic and spray paint.

“I was drawn to Igor’s draftsmanship, his radical use of color to heighten and communicate emotion, and the gorgeous heavy body of his paintwork,” says gallery director Ryan Graff. “This combination results in portraiture that is very rich indeed. Over the last year, I’ve appreciated his desire to consistently evolve and push himself in new directions. It’s been a delight to see his work change and grow, and it’s such an honor to be able to present this body of work.”

Two, oil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 2113⁄20 x 2113⁄20"

 

Woman in Striped Shorts, oil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 31½ x 213/4"

 

The exhibition, titled Strangers, opens with a reception on December 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. and runs through January 18, 2025. Between 12 and 15 paintings will be on view for collectors to explore.

“There is a constant desire to draw something, to make it interesting, to play with color, textures [and] composition,” says Lipskykh. “And if something comes out of it, it is more than enough inspiration for me to continue.” —

Ryan Graff Contemporary
804 Sutter Street • San Francisco, CA 94109 • www.ryangraffcontemporary.com

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