Leonid Afremov
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Leonid Afremov

Leonid with one of his paintings in 2009.
Born 12 July 1955
Vitebsk
Spouse Inessa Afremova
Nationality Russian–Israeli
Field Painting
Training Vitebsk Art School
Movement Impressionism
Influenced by Marc Chagall
Website Official Website
Leonid Afremov (born 12 July 1955 ...

Leonid Afremov
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012)
Leonid Afremov

Leonid with one of his paintings in 2009.
Born 12 July 1955
Vitebsk
Spouse Inessa Afremova
Nationality Russian–Israeli
Field Painting
Training Vitebsk Art School
Movement Impressionism
Influenced by Marc Chagall
Website Official Website
Leonid Afremov (born 12 July 1955 in Vitebsk, Belarus) is a Russian–Israeli modern impressionistic artist who works mainly with a palette knife and oils. He developed his own unique technique and style which is unmistakable. Afremov is mainly known as being a self-representing artist who promotes and sells his work exclusively over the internet with very few exhibitions and little involvement of dealers and galleries.
Before the advancement of online sales and eBay, Afremov was a struggling artist. He was born in Vitebsk, Belarus, and lived there until 1990. Between 1990 and 2002 he lived in Israel, and from 2002 to 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida. Afremov currently resides in the popular resort town Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, near Cancun. He paints mainly landscape, city scenes, seascapes, flowers and portraits. Most of his work is considered very colorful and politically neutral.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life and education
2 Life and career in Soviet Russia from 1976 to 1990
3 Life and career in Israel from 1990 to 2002
4 Life and career in USA from 2002 to 2010
5 Recent life and career in Mexico
6 Artistic philosophy
7 Some of his exhibitions
8 Gallery
9 References
10 External links
[edit]Early life and education

Leonid Afremov was born on 12 July 1955 in Vitebsk, Belarus, then former USSR, to Jewish parents Bella Afremova and Arkadiy Afremov. His father was a shoe designer and shoemaker. His mother worked in a metal factory in Vitebsk. He was born in the same town as Marc Chagall, who later became a significant role model to Afremov.


Leonid on the right side 1958.
Afremov was raised in a traditional Jewish home. His parents and grandparents spoke Yidish at home. Despite government anti-semitism, the family practiced many Jewish traditions and risked imprisonment for practicing their religion and speaking their language. Their birth certificates and government IDs stated their nationality as Jewish.
Afremov was a good student in school and was interested in history and art. He attended all the possible art classes offered in school and took private lessons from local artists. Leonid's parents noticed his talent for painting at an early age and encouraged him to develop his talents. At the age of 14 Leonid was exposed to extreme cold which resulted in kidney damage. Later in life the kidney damage resulted in hypertension which he still struggles with to this day.
In 1973 Leonid Afremov graduated with honor from high school in Vitebsk and was admitted to the Vitebsk Education Institute where he studied in the arts and graphics department. During his years in college, Afremov was introduced to the work of Marc Chagall, Picasso, Dali, Modigliani and the 19th century French Impressionism. His early artistic work was very influenced by Chagall and Modigliani. During his years in college, Afremov participated in various school exhibitions and even sold some paintings. In 1978 Afremov graduated from the Vitebsk Art School as one of their elite members.[1] After that he took private lessons from local famous artist Barowski who was teaching art when Marc Chagall was still living in Vitebsk.
[edit]Life and career in Soviet Russia from 1976 to 1990

In 1975 Afremov met his wife to be, Inessa Kagan, who he married the following year. In 1977 his first son Dmitry was born. The young family lived in a 2 room apartment together with Inessa's parents, grandmother and sister. In 1982 they bought their own home where they lived until