Bird Cherry (1999) Painting by Elena Barkhatkova

May 24, 1965 born in Slutsk, Minsk region;
1977-1980 studied at art school in Slutsk under V. Sadin;
1980-1984 studied at the Minsk Glebov Art School under O. Lutzevich;
Since 1993 has lived in the village of Khoruzhi near Minsk.

The works of Elena Barkhatkova initially radiate the sentiments of happiness, purity, harmony and freshness; they give the sense of triumph of life. She seems to bring together the best of her emotions, confiding to canvas her innermost and exciting feelings that inspire her creative art — love for land, animals, flowers... Generously gifted with capacity to shape her visions in images of sound and cheerful colours, Elena paints only from nature, brining into the focus the technique of subtle colouring, filling the landscapes with light and air. The spirit of her paintings manifests in itself love and brightness. Whatever different her pictures are, all of them have common virtues — harmonious integrity of artist’s conception, reflected in vivid and picturesque effects. Penetrating through the crowns of trees, or passing through bunch of flowers, sunlight enriches the canvas with gentle play of colourful nuances, emphasizing depth of space by shades of different intensity. Painting in genre of landscape and still life, Elena mastered free and easy manner of plein-air. A number of exhibitions abroad — in France, Holland, Italy — made the name of Elena Barkhatkova well known and recognized as a master of plein-air painting. But all roads lead home. In her remote country-side studio she obtains spirititual comfort through peaceful contact with nature, painting contentedly her native motifs.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:
Museum of Contemporary Art, Belarus
Ministry of Culture of Belarus, Belarus
Mogilev Fine Arts Museum of Maslenikov, Belarus
Grodna State Museum of History and Archaeology, Belarus
National Art Museum of Belarus, Belarus
Justus Frantz collection, Germany
Magli Collection, Italy
Romualdo del Bianco Fondation, Italy
Würth Collection, Germany

• Nationality: BELARUS
• Date of birth : 1965
• Artistic domains: Works by artists with a certified artist value,
• Groups: Certified Artists Contemporary Belarusian Artists