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Vibrant Works by Gorbachev Again Grace Local Art Sceneby KRISTEN ARMSTRONG, Staff Writer |
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| Internationally renowned painter Yuri
Gorbachev may have his work hanging in places such as the Louvre and the
Kremlin, but one of his all-time favorite spots to show his pieces is
the Byrne Gallery in Middleburg. His fourth annual exhibition currently is on display at the gallery, and will run through Dec. 3. “In the U.S., I have 10 galleries that represent me, but I like this one the best,” he said in a recent interview. The oil paintings in the show are from Gorbachev's 2006 museum exhibitions. The pieces were shown at institutions such as the Conjunto Cutural de Caixa in Sao Paulo, Brazil; the Moscow Museum of Modern Art in Russia; and the National Museum of Ukraine, among other galleries and museums. This collection has a little bit of everything, from landscapes to images of evolution to depictions of the circus, but Gorbachev is most excited about his piece titled “Gray Horse” and another painting that depicts the four elements. Some of the works in the exhibition will soon be shown at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Gorbachev uses a unique technique for his paintings that incorporates his early artistic background in ceramics. He uses precious metals, such as gold, copper and bronze, with special lacquers over oil on canvas, creating an enamel-like finish. A lover of bright colors, he said his work is full of positive energy. He avoids subjects, such as war, that bring negativity to the table. “I like to make people happy,” he said. In addition to the exhibit, Gorbachev is excited about a new catalogue of his work called “The Yuri Gorbachev Museum Collection,” which is on sale at the Byrne Gallery. For more information on the exhibition, call the Byrne Gallery at (540) 687-6986. |
 Yuri Gorbachev (pictured here with a holiday painting commissioned by the Russian vodka company Stolichnaya) presents his fourth annual exhibition at the Byrne Gallery. The exhibition will run through early December. |