Arina Gordienko

Arina Gordienko MA 

Arina Gordienko MA, figurative realist artist based in the UK, is a multi-award winner and finalist of various art contests in the UK, USA and Europe. Her works are exhibited at Saatchi Gallery, MEAM – Museum European Modern Art, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Modern Art Vittoria Colonna, Museum of Fantastic Art, OSTEN Museum of Drawing, and other venues in Europe, Russia, USA, Australia and India. 

Arina’s works are in private collections worldwide, including The Bennett Collection, OSTEN Museum of Drawing collection, and The Peregrine Collection going to land on the Moon on the ‘Peregrine Lunar Lander’ Annex 9 time Astrobotic capsule. Her works featured in numerous publications, i.e. ‘Strokes of Genius’, American Art Collector Magazine, International Artist Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur, ‘Women Painting’ by MEAM, ‘ModPortrait’, ‘Arte y Libertad’ and ‘Leonardo Art Guide’ by Artelibre Gallery, ‘International Realism’ by ARC Salon, etc. 

Arina has academic art education completed MA in Painting at Chelsea College of Arts, BA in Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins College of Arts (both - University of Arts London, UK), and Distinction Diploma in Fine Arts at College of Arts in Russia. 

Arina dedicates herself to realistic traditions in painting, combining classical techniques with imaginative compositions and a contemporary palette. In her work she uses the old Masters classic 'sfumato' technique with her own contemporary essence. Her style can be described as imaginative realism where personages are placed into the artist’s imaginary world and circumstances. Most often she portrays her characters with a direct gaze that triggers special eye contact, which is a form of nonverbal communication implying a close relationship with a viewer.  Her works involve emotionally and intellectually, she communicates with her viewers by inviting them to experience emotions and deep inner feelings that she reveals in her personages and that evoke viewers’ emotional responses. Her works consistently enrolled with an intellectual riddle and philosophical content.

Artist Statement

My paintings can be perceived as a performance of humans’ soul movements. The fragile magic of life mesmerises me. I see humans’ souls as fragile lights of fireflies in the dark - it is so easy to break this light. And as an artist I try to convey this light onto my paintings, keeping and increasing the wonder of this light in the world. I’d like to believe that the main purpose of art is keeping this world in balance and harmony, and awareness of that gives me an entire inspiration to continue my work. Painting for me is vital and absolutely essential, something I cannot live and breathe without.

Creating new paintings for me is a kind of magical ritual, almost alchemy - I love to insert into my works mysterious and surreal atmosphere and often position my personages in the middle of nowhere without any signs of a particular place, time/age, or any other specific characteristics. I am trying to capture and visually express a quintessence of humans’ emotions and feelings in an unusual environment, often on a border of their capacity of perception - a pure essence of human’s soul and often hidden deep inner content. Deep emotions do not depend on any boundaries, such as countries, languages, mentalities, religions, races, etc. I believe that pure emotions that are visually depicted in artworks can be perceived by everyone; emotionally powerful artworks can be adopted and understood by everybody in the world as a Universal language.

In my paintings, I use the old Masters of Renaissance technique called ‘sfumato’, derived from the Italian word ‘sfumare’ – tone down or smoke down. Within this oil-painting technique, the colours and tones layer gradually one above another without any sharp outlines which bring to the images a softened or ‘smoked-down’ subtle outcome. My style may be described as imaginative realism where personages are placed into my own imaginary world and circumstances. I hope to emotionally engage viewers and often portray characters in my works with a direct straight into eyes gaze revealing all the hidden emotions and feelings that evoke viewers’ emotional responses. My personages emerge dramatic or ironic however I consistently surround them with an intellectual riddle and philosophical content appealing to curious and peculiar minds. 

I never expect that inspiration will come to me on a daily basis - I just go to my studio and get myself ready for working hard and then, in hours, inspiration can come along if I'm lucky. But it is not guaranteed. Only hours of hard work and practice help to create something spectacular. I am aware of what I am bringing to the world within my creativity. I believe that artists are responsible for every brushstroke we produce. The more beautiful and positive artworks created today, the better will be the world we are living in tomorrow. Art is the most powerful tool to keep this world in balance and harmony.

Awards and Recognition

2021 - Honourable Mention, IBPC- International Biennial Portrait Competition, WMOCA 
            Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, USA
2021 - Award Winner, 2-nd Award in 'Favourite Subjects', International Artist Magazine, USA
2021 - Finalist, ModPortrait-2020, MEAM –European Museum of Modern Art, Artelibre 
            Gallery, Barcelona, Spain 
2021 - Finalist, 16th International ARC Salon Competition, Art Renewal Center, USA
2021 - Finalist, ‘Lohengrin’ Contest, MEAM – European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona
2020 - Finalist, ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London, UK
2020 - Finalist, ModPortrait-2019, MEAM – European Museum of Modern Art, Artelibre 
             Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2020 - Finalist, 15th International ARC Salon Competition, Art Renewal Center, USA
2019 - Award Winner, 3-d Award in People/Figures, International Artist Magazine, USA
2019 - Award Winner, Derwent Special Fine Art Award, Presented by Her Royal Highness 
            Princess Michael of Kent, SWA Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, UK
2019 - Finalist, International Biennial Portrait Competition (IBPC), Wausau Museum of 
            Contemporary Art, Wausau, USA
2019 - Finalist, 14th International ARC Salon Competition, Art Renewal Center, USA
2018 - Finalist, 13th International ARC Salon Competition, Art Renewal Center, USA
2018 - Finalist, Non-Commissioned Portrait category, Portrait Society of America Members 
            Only Competition, USA
2017 - Finalist, 12th International ARC Salon Competition, Art Renewal Center, USA
2016 - Award Winner, 2-nd Award in Berliner Art Prize, Germany
2016 - Honorary Mention and Diploma for ‘bright and remarkable contribution in the    
            Conservation and development of the artistic values in Modern Art’, Berliner Art Prize, 
            Germany
2016 - Finalist, Portrait Society of America Only Members Competition, USA
2016 - Finalist, The Artist's Magazine Annual Competition, Portraits/Figures category, USA
2015 - Winner for Publication at ‘Strokes of Genius-7’ (out of over 2000 entries) 
            International Drawing Competition, USA
2014 - Award Winner, 3-d Place in ‘Outside the Box’ category, Portrait Society of     
            America Members Only Competition, USA
2014 - Finalist, Art Gemini Prize, Painting category, London, UK
2014 - Finalist, BEEP International Painting Prize Biennial, Swansea, Wales, UK
2014 - Finalist, Connfuence'14 Art Contest, Gallery Art Eterne, New Deli, India
2013 - Gold Award, Master of Art International, Margarita Feaks Gallery, Mile End Art 
            Pavilion, London, UK
2013 - Finalist, Mortimore Art Prize, Surrealism Category, Australia
2012 - Winner (out of more than 3000 submissions) for participation at the BBC2 TV series 
           ‘Show Me the Monet’ run on the National BBC2 TV during 4 weeks, followed by 
            exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. TV series and exhibition hosted by BBC 
            presenter and journalist Chris Hollins. Panel of Judges (Hanging Committee) included art 
            critic Charlotte Mullins, art historian David Lee and art dealer Roy Bolton.
2012 - Award Winner. 2-nd Merit in ‘Outside the Box’ category, Portrait Society of America 
            Members Only Competition, USA
2012 - Award Winner, 4-th Merit in 'Self-Portrait’ category, Portrait Society of America 
            Members Only Competition, USA
2011 -  Award Winner, 2-nd Award in ‘Is it Fine Art? Challenging Traditions’, Pen and Brush 
            Gallery, New York, USA
2011 -  Winner for Publication in ‘Strokes of Genius-4’ (out of 1650 entries), International 
            Drawing Competition, USA
2010 - Finalist (Top 10 out of over 3750 entries), Art of Giving National Art Competition, 
            SAATCHI Gallery, London, UK. Panel of judges included Gavin Turk, Christian Furr, 
            Terry O'Neill and representatives from the Tate, Frieze, Scream and FAS London
2010 - Award Winner, The Best Foreign Artist Mention, Arte Laguna Art Prize, Venice, Italy
2010 - Special Award Gagliardi Art Gallery, Arte Laguna Art Prize, Venice, Italy
2010 - Special Award Fiorella Pieri Contemporary Art Gallery, Arte Laguna Art Prize, Venice
2010 - Trophy Award (Top 15 out of 5000 entries, 95 countries), LICC – London International 
            Creative Competition, UK. 
2009 - MFA Now Award, International Painting Competition,
             Miami/New York, USA. International panel of judges included Kay Saatchi, Edward 
             Lucie-Smith, Judy Chicago, John Miley, Victoria Lu
2009 - Award Winner, 1-st Place in Full Brush International Competition, Pen and Brush 
             Gallery, New York, USA. Juried and Awarded by Margaret Kelly Trombly, President of 
             The Forbes Art Collection
2009 - Award Winner, 2-nd Prize (out of 14.000) in Portrait/Figure category, The Artist’s 
             Magazine, USA
2009 - Semi-Finalist (Top 100 out of 1900 entries), 'Silence, Opus 3' has been through to the 
             second round for the BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, UK.
2008 - Award Winner, Anthony J. Lester Art Critic Award, SWA Annual exhibition, 
             Mall Galleries, London, UK. Prize awarded by Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of 
             Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent
2008 - Award Winner, 1-st Prize (Out of 14.000) Portrait/Figure Students category, The Artist’s 
             Magazine, USA
2008 - Semi-Finalist (Top 100 out of 1650 entries), 'Angel, Portrait of Angelika' has been 
             through the second round for BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, UK. 
2008 - Public Choice Award, National Open Art Competition, UK. Awarded by Kay Austin, the 
             Arts Club, London
2008 - Visitor's Choice Award, Cork Street International Open Art Competition, London, UK
2008 – Short-listed (Top 5 out of 1500 entries) for Brenda Landon Pye Portrait Prize, London
 

Exhibitions (selected)

2021 - ICONIC, curated by Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt (The Bennet
            Collection), Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, USA
2021 - IBPC International Biennial Portrait Competition, WMOCA   Wausau Museum of 
            Contemporary Art, USA
2021 - ModPortrait-2020, Artelibre Gallery, MEAM – European Museum of Modern Art in
            Barcelona and Bantierra Palace in Zaragoza, Spain
2021 - Women Painting (All Over the World), MEAM – European Museum of Modern Art in 
            Barcelona, Spain. Exhibition of 78 selected women artists from 25 countries
2021 - LOENGRIN Exhibition, MEAM – European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona
2021 – SWA - Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, Opened by 
            Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent. Also – 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 
            2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, London, UK
2020 - ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London, UK
2020 – Shelter, Online Exclusive exhibition curated by Samuel Peralta, Canada
2020 - Your Best Painting, Online Exclusive exhibition by Artelibre Gallery with MEAM – 
             European Museum of Modern Art collaboration
2020 – Ambivalence, Online Exclusive exhibition curated by Carol Hodes, USA
2020 - ModPortrait-2019, Artelibre Gallery, MEAM – European Museum of Modern Art in 
             Barcelona and Bantierra Palace in Zaragoza, Spain
2020 - The Creator and The Muse, ZBAC, Chicago, USA
2020 - Story Tellers, The Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2020 - ARK of ART, Online Exclusive exhibition curated by Helmut Danninger, Germany
2019 - More Than Realism-XIV,  Artelibre Gallery, Zaragosa, Spain in collaboration with MEAM – 
            European Museum of Modern Art
2019 - Flowers Show, Abend Gallery, USA
2019 - International Biennial Portrait Competition, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, USA
2019 - I Observe, Curated by Lance Rehs, Rehs Contemporary Galleries, New York, USA
2019 - Painting Today, Curated by Didi Menendez, MEAM – European Museum of Modern 
            Art, Barcelona, Spain
2018 - Figurative Realism, Curated by Dirk Dzimirsky and Didi Menendez, Online Exclusive   
2017 - Art For a Little Brave Heart, Fund-raising Exhibition for Charity ‘Gift of Life, 
            Rossotrudnichsetvo, London
2017 - MAG Montreux Art Gallery, Switzerland, First MAG Visionary Art Exhibition. With 
            HR Giger, Ernst Fuchs, De Es Schwertberger, Brigid Marlin, Roku Sasaki
2016 - Biennale PESCAART, Museum of Modern Art Vittoria Colonna, Gall'Art Roma, Italy
2015 - Phantastishe Venus Biennale, Exhibition of 70 Women Artists, Viechtag, Germany
2015 - ITINERA Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Museum Complex of Dioscuri, Rome, Italy. 
2014 - BEEP International Painting Biennial, Elysium Gallery, Swansea, Wales, UK. Also -2012
2014 - Gemini Art Prize exhibition, Rebecca Cossack Gallery, London, UK
2014 – Connfuence-14, Art Contest, Gallery Art Eterne, New Deli, India
2013-2014  Mortimore Art Prize - The very best in Realism, Exhibition touring around 
            Australia. The Scots College Anderson Hall in Sydney, St Brigids Hall in Dubbo, The 
            Stables Gallery in Mudgee, Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange, BDAS Gallery in Bowral, 
            Dudley House in Bendigo  and others in Brisbane, Geelong, Canberra 
2013 - SOLO-Exhibition, 'ARINA - The Theatre Of One Artist’, curated by Lyes&Jones, 
            The 20th Century Theatre, Notting Hill, London, UK
2013 - Master of Art International Exhibition, The Art Pavilion Gallery, London, UK
2013 - Exhibition of Award-winning artists on World Gallery of Drawing, Gallery of Art Critics, 
            Adria Palace, Prague
2013 - Museum Sant’Oreste, Rome, Italy, Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Gall’Art Roma
2013 - A Single Grain of Rice, International Exhibition, Gallery Métanoïa, Paris, France
2013 - After the Monet, group exhibition, Coningsby Gallery, London, UK
2012 - Uncommon Vision, Museum of Fantastic Art, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Prof. Philip 
            Rubinov-Jacobson
2012 - BBC2 National TV series ‘Show me the Monet’ winners exhibition, Mall Galleries, 
            London, UK, 
2012 - OSTEN Award Biennial, 40 Gallery and Museum of Drawing, Skopje, Macedonia
2011 - The Passion for Freedom Art Festival, UNIT24 Gallery, London, UK
2011 - Pen and Brush Gallery, New York, USA, ‘Is it Fine Art? - Challenging Traditions’, 
           Curated by auctioneer Kenneth Hutter and auction appraiser Jennifer Elhardt
2010 - Art of Giving, SAATCHI Gallery, London, UK. With Damian Hirst, Banksy, Sir Peter 
            Blake, Steve Goddard, Leonardo Drew Gavin Turk, Mark Wallinger, Terry O’Neill, 
            Alan Warren, Christian Furr, Alexa Meade, Breezy Bailey, Zak Ove
2010 - Arte Laguna Art Prize, International Exhibition, Venice Arsenale, Venice, Italy
2010 - Legend Celebrity Art, in collaboration with ‘Art of Giving’, Mayfair Gallery, London. 
             With Gerard Mankowitz, Terry O’Neill, Danny Clifford, Allan Warren, Gavin Turk, etc.
2010 - B.J.Spoke Gallery, USA, New York, EXPO-2010, juried by Cornelia Seckel, Publisher 
            The Art Times
2010 - Cork Street Gallery Open Art Competition, London, UK. Juried by Edward Lucy-Smith, 
            Also - 2009, 2008
2010 - Occidental Dimension, Brighton Universe Gallery, Brighton, UK
2010 – NOACC - The National Open Art Competition, Chichester, UK.  Judges headed by 
            Gavin Turk. Also - 2008
2009 - Pen and Brush Gallery, New York, USA, ‘Fall Brush’ curated by Margaret Kelly 
            Trombly, The Forbes Collection President
2009 - MFA Now, Award Winner’s Exhibition, Praxis Art International Gallery, Miami, USA, 
            Juried by the international panel of judges including Kay Saatchi, Edward Lucie-Smith 
            and Judy Chicago
2008 - The First Biennial RBSA Open Portrait Award, The RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
2008 - Brenda Landon Pye Portrait Prize, London, UK, Red Room Gallery, Chelsea College of 
            Art, London, UK
2007 - XHIBIT-07 winners show, The Arts Gallery, Davies Street, London, UK. Curated by 
            Tom Hunter
2006 - Lethaby Gallery, London , UK, LANDMARKS, Central Saint Martins College of Art
1985-1993 - Variety of exhibitions in Russia including regional exhibitions at the State Art 
            Museum of Zauralie, Russia