Tony Zhuravel is a highly acclaimed contemporary artist whose unique style and approach to abstract expressionism has earned him a prominent place within the Nouvelle École artistique de Vitebsk. Born in Orsha in 1963, Zhuravel graduated from the Vitebsk Art Institute in 1992, and became a member of the Belarusian Union of Artists in 1997.
One of the hallmarks of Zhuravel’s painting style is his layering effect, which he achieves by interleaving textures, blending color, and infusing a subjective atmosphere within his imagery. His use of unpredictable palettes and a wide spectrum of colors has become a distinctive attribute of his work.
Zhuravel’s abstract western landscapes experiment with the concept of the horizon, showcasing austere western prairies bonded with a shifting sky. His imagery reveals the horizon’s intricate variety in rich layers and unusual colors, showcasing his unique approach to abstract expressionism.
Unlike other artists who oscillate between abstract and figurative modes, Zhuravel has become acknowledged as a master of Abstract Expressionism. He decided early on in the 1990s that abstraction was not just another way to paint, but a matter of professional integrity. His chief catalyst in recognizing the power of abstract art was Willem de Kooning’s paintings.
In 2007, Tony Zhuravel represented Belarus at the Venice Biennale, showcasing his most ambitious painting, “August,” which demonstrated his potential for freewheeling expressionism. He worked with a variety of techniques, from applying paint thickly with a brush to allowing it to run and scraping into the surface.
Tony Zhuravel’s works can be found in many state and private collections all over the world. His art occupies a unique position in the school of Vitebsk, Belarus, and his surprising use of color and layering effect continue to captivate audiences and inspire other contemporary artists.
1988 – republican youth exhibition, Minsk.
1988 – republican youth exhibition, Minsk.
1988 – regional youth exhibition, Vitebsk.
1989 – regional exhibition, Vitebsk.
1990 – international exhibition «Call of Cassandra», Minsk.
1991 – exhibition of Belarusian art in Saudi Arabia.
1991
– republican exhibition «Search – experiment», Minsk;
– republican exhibition of a tapestry, Minsk.
1992 – republican exhibition «110 Years since Y. Kolas’ birth», Minsk.
1992 – 1st exhibition of visual arts «Art-Mark», Vitebsk.
1993
– exhibition «Autumn Open-air», Minsk;
– exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Vitebsk, Art Museum.
1994 – republican exhibition of a tapestry, Polotsk.
1995
– exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Mogilev;
– exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Vitebsk, Art Museum;
– exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Orsha.
1997 – exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Vitebsk, Art Museum.
1996 – republican exhibition of a tapestry, Minsk, National Art Museum.
1999
– exhibition «Ways of Search and Finds», Vitebsk, Exhibition hall of the Union of Artists;
– exhibition «Autumn-99», Vitebsk, Exhibition hall of the Union of Artists.
2000
– exhibition «80 Years to UNOVIS», Vitebsk, Exhibition hall of the Union of Artists;
– exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Vitebsk, Exhibition hall of the Union of Artists.
2008 – republican exhibition «Syabryna», Minsk.
2009 – republican exhibition «ABSTRACT-2009», Minsk.
2010 – republican exhibition «Land Under the White Wings», Vitebsk, CMA.
2011 – art-project «ABSTRACT», Vitebsk, CMA.
2011 – international exhibition «Collegium», Orsha.
2012 – 1st Belarusian triennial exhibition of modern art, Minsk, BelExpo.
2013
– personal exhibition «Horizons», Orsha;
– personal exhibition «Horizons», Minsk.
Group:
2006 – exhibition of Vitebsk artists, Smolensk.
2007 – exhibition «ABSTRACT-07», Vitebsk, CMA.
2008
– exhibition «From Marc Chagall to our Time», Smolensk;
– exhibition «THE BEST-08», Vitebsk, CMA;
– personal exhibition, Vitebsk, CMA.
2009
– Venice Biennale, won a special award, representative of Belarus. “AUGUST”
– exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Vitebsk, CMA;
– exhibition «ABSTRACT-2009», Vitebsk, CMA.
2010
– exhibition «Art Space of Vitebsk Region», Minsk;
– exhibition devoted to the 40th anniversary of Vitebsk branch of «BUA», Vitebsk, CMA.
2012 – exhibition of the creative association «Orshitsa», Polotsk, Picture Gallery.
2012
– international exhibition «Collegium», Orsha;
– international exhibition «East – West. Time to Rove», Moscow, CHA;
– exhibition of the Commonwealth Of Independent States «Art of Nations», Moscow, CHA.
2013 – project by N.Pogranovsky «Ecology of Art», Minsk, CMA.
2013 – international exhibition «Collegium», Orsha.
2014 – international exhibition «Collegium», Orsha.
2015 – international exhibition «Collegium», Orsha.
2014
– mobile exhibition to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus, Orsha, Dubrovno;
– exhibition «Art-alphabet», Vitebsk, Art Museum;
– personal exhibition «Horizons», Moscow, CHA.
