Vitaly Kolesnikov

Sub-creator Established Creator UA

Master of subtle lyrical landscapes and contemplative painting.

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on M-ART since: 2026

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"Painting is not the transmission of an image, it is the transmission of a state. For me, what matters is not what is depicted on the canvas, but what energy it radiates. When color begins to vibrate and texture becomes tactile—only then does the painting truly start to speak."

A prominent representative of the Ukrainian "New Wave" and a master of Neo-Expressionism. His work is characterized by powerful color energy and dynamic brushwork that transforms figurative subjects into deep emotional images. The artist masterfully works with texture, creating a space where light is the primary messenger of meaning.

Vitalii Kolesnykov is an artist whose work embodies the energy of transformation in Ukrainian art of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His style, formed on the borderline between figurative and abstract art, is a prime example of Neo-Expressionism, where color ceases to be a means of describing reality and becomes an independent protagonist. Kolesnykov treats the canvas as living matter, applying paint with thick, dynamic brushstrokes that create a sculptural, voluminous texture. A pulsation of inner life is always present in his works, hidden behind the outward simplicity of subjects. Light holds a special place in his practice—it seems to break through layers of paint, creating a distinct dramatic tension. Kolesnykov’s works are visual manifestos of emotional freedom, where each color patch aims to evoke an immediate response, bypassing rational filters.

Represented by

Mironova Gallery

Credentials

Awards

1995 Member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine — official recognition of high professional qualification and contribution to the development of the national school of painting.
Laureate of the All-Ukrainian Exhibition-Contest "Picturesque Ukraine" — repeated recognition of works for a high level of coloristic mastery.
Diploma Winner of the All-Ukrainian Triennial of Painting (Kyiv) — one of the most prestigious industry awards for contemporary artists in Ukraine.
Special Award of the International Symposium "S.T.G." (Tokyo, Japan) — for an innovative approach to color and composition, combining Eastern laconicism and Western expression.
Honorary Certificates from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine — for many years of creative work and promotion of Ukrainian art in the international arena.

Solo exhibitions

2026 "Color Matrix", White World CCA, Kyiv.
2025 "Light Through Time", retrospective exhibition, National Museum "Kyiv Art Gallery", Kyiv.
2023 "Horizons of Serenity", Triptych ART Gallery, Kyiv.
2022 "Unbreakable Hue", charity project, Kyiv — Prague.
2021 "Beyond the Visible", Kyiv Gallery, Kyiv.
2019 "Color Space", Art Space Gallery, Kyiv.
2016 "Vibrations", Dnipro Art Museum, Dnipro.
2014 "Light Structure", J. Greter Art Center, Kyiv.
2012 "City Rhythms", Triptych Gallery, Kyiv.
2010 "Color Energy", Mystetska Zbirka Gallery, Kyiv.
2008 "Metamorphoses", Dzyga Gallery, Lviv.
2005 "Chiaroscuro", NUAU Exhibition Hall, Kyiv.
2003 Solo Exhibition within the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Germany, Berlin.
1999 "The Game", L-Art Gallery, Kyiv.
1996 "Transformation", National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU), Kyiv.
1992 "The Beginning", Kharkiv Art Museum, Kharkiv.

Group exhibitions

2024 2026 | "Scales of Abstraction", touring contemporary painting project, Kyiv — Prague — Vienna.
2023 "Color as Resistance", contemporary art exhibition, Triptych ART Gallery, Kyiv.
2022 "Art for Victory", international charity project, Berlin — Warsaw.
2021 "Color as an Argument", National Museum "Kyiv Art Gallery", Kyiv.
2014 "Ukrainian Landscape", Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv.
2011 "Independent", Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv.
2010 "Art-Kyiv Contemporary", International Contemporary Art Fair, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv.
2005 Exhibition of Contemporary Ukrainian Art, S.T.G. Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
2002 "Art of Ukraine", Palazzo Ducale, Genoa, Italy.
2000 "Contemporary Art of Ukraine" Project, Chicago, USA.
1998 All-Ukrainian Triennial of Painting, House of the Artist, Kyiv.
1996 International Art Festival, Ukrainian House, Kyiv.
1993 "Group 7" Creative Association Exhibition, Kharkiv Art Museum, Kharkiv.
1990 1992 | "North Pole" Association Exhibitions, Kyiv / Kharkiv.

Media coverage

International fairs

2024 2026 | "Scales of Abstraction", international touring project, Kyiv — Prague — Vienna.
2022 "Unbreakable", charity auction and exhibition of Ukrainian art, Philadelphia, USA.
2014 "Contemporary Ukrainian Art", group project as part of an international tour, Vienna, Austria.
2011 2013 | "Art-Kyiv Contemporary", international contemporary art fair, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kyiv (international sections).
2010 "Fine Art Ukraine", international art festival, Kyiv.
2005 Solo and Group Exposition, S.T.G. Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
2003 "Days of Ukrainian Culture in Germany", official painting exhibition, Berlin, Germany.
2002 "Arte Ucraina", large-scale exhibition at Palazzo Ducale, Genoa, Italy.
2000 "Contemporary Art of Ukraine", exhibition at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, USA.
1990 s | Series of exhibitions with the "North Pole" association, Poland, Czech Republic.

Personal

1990 Founder of the "New Wave": Became one of the key figures in the formation of Ukrainian neo-expressionism in the 1990s, rejecting academism in favor of free emotional form.
East-West Synthesis: One of the few Ukrainian artists whose creative style was highly appreciated in Japan (exhibitions in Tokyo), where his coloristic restraint combined with expression was compared to the best examples of global modernism.
Master of Authorial Texture: Developed a unique paint application technique that creates a "shimmering surface" effect, where light is integrated directly into the structure of the painting layer.
Museum Recognition: The artist's works are officially included in the funds of the National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU) and leading regional museums, confirming his status as a classic of contemporary painting.