Rothschild Fine Art proudly presents its first exhibition of works by Leonid Balaklav in the gallery.
Balaklav is showing self-portraits made during various periods of his life, from the 1990s when he first immigrated to Israel, to the present day. Also on exhibit will be portraits of different people the artist met who intrigued him as subjects. Leonid is known for his lyrical portraits reflecting the depths of his own soul.
He studies his own image almost obsessively, painting numerous self-portraits, each one different. At times he portrays himself bare-chested except for his tzitzit, while in other self-portraits he is wearing shabby work clothes. The way the light falls varies in each painting, as does his gaze, at times thoughtful, sometimes tormented, making each portrait unique.
Balaklav was born in 1956 in a small town in Moldavian SSR. His talent for painting was noticed at an early age, he was sent to local art schools. At age 15, he was accepted into the Kiev Art Institute, followed by studies at the Odessa Art Academy. Balaklav immigrated to Israel in 1990. His numerous prizes include the Haim Shiff Prize for Figurative-Realistic Art, 2014, which comprised a one-person exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; the Jerusalem Prize for Painting and Sculpture, 1995; and a Gold Medal at the International Film Festival, Tokyo, 1987.
Exhibition opens Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 8 p.m.
Closing date: Saturday, November 18, 2017.
For further information and images: Contact Inbar Cohen, 052-872-9490 or 077-502-0484. e-mail: info@rgfineart.com