Leonid Gervits was born in Odessa, a beautiful city on the Black Sea which was an important cultural and arts center of the former USSR. In a big museum of Western art, I visited Caravagio, Veronese, and Hals; in a big Russian museum, I visited Serov, Repin, Vrubel, and Kustodiev. These were my temples!At 20, I graduated from the Odessa Art College. The next year, I entered the National Academy of Art's famous Repin institute in Leningrad (now St-Petersburg) and graduated in 1973, cum-laude. While a student, I taught drawing for the Repin's architectural department. In 1975, after post graduate studies, I began full-time teaching as a professor in the painting department.
I participated in many shows in the Soviet Union and abroad. Starting in1990, I was able to travel, and began showing in the West: Germany, Switzerland, and Luxemburg. Speaking fluent German made its easier. In 1991, I came to the USA and started teaching at the New York Academy of Art, a figurative school. In !996, I was invited to teach at the Art Students League of New York and have continued teaching there until the present.
My philosophical and creative statement could be short: I'm enjoying the visual world while looking and trying to transfer my experience into visual art. In the very center of my attention is the human being, especially the human face. There is no bigger joy as to catch the personality and portray it's likeness as I see it. A portrait is always about two people: one is modeling, one is painting.
Portrait of Barry Rosenthal
48 x 36 inches
Oil on Canvas
I participated in many shows in the Soviet Union and abroad. Starting in1990, I was able to travel, and began showing in the West: Germany, Switzerland, and Luxemburg. Speaking fluent German made its easier. In 1991, I came to the USA and started teaching at the New York Academy of Art, a figurative school. In !996, I was invited to teach at the Art Students League of New York and have continued teaching there until the present.
My philosophical and creative statement could be short: I'm enjoying the visual world while looking and trying to transfer my experience into visual art. In the very center of my attention is the human being, especially the human face. There is no bigger joy as to catch the personality and portray it's likeness as I see it. A portrait is always about two people: one is modeling, one is painting.
Portrait of Barry Rosenthal
48 x 36 inches
Oil on Canvas