With the Swipe of a Palette Knife, Artist Captures
Rhythm of Every Scene
by Jan Thompson
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Lyudmila Agrich at Mirada Fine Art, Magic Colors of Night,
Oil on Canvas, 30" x 30" |
The paintings of
contemporary artist Lyudmila Agrich will transport you. Suddenly you’re caught in the bustle of
Times Square; you’re strolling down a Parisian boulevard enjoying the sunset;
you’re quietly contemplating the colorful reflections of a lily pond. You feel
the movement surrounding you. On
Friday, May 8, Agrich includes her fellow Coloradoans in her visual travels
when she brings her newest collection of luminous oil paintings, ‘Rhythm,’ to
Mirada Fine Art.
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Lyudmila Agrich at Mirada Fine Art, SummerNight,
Oil on Canvas, 24" x 18" |
The rich glow of each Agrich
creation is a hallmark of the artist.
Applying oil paint with a palette knife instead of a brush allows her to
truly capture the underlying motion, and emotion, of a scene. She refers to the canvases as ‘a visual
diary.’ The radiance of her work demonstrates how light and texture can alter
both our perceptions and our mood. “Every painting is unique and reflects a
part of me, but somehow appeals universally to others,” Agrich states.
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Lyudmila Agrich at Mirada Fine Art, Sunny Flowers,
Oil on Canvas, 30" x 36" |
Born in Russia, Lyudmila
spent much of her childhood in the seaside city of Odessa. The ever-changing nature of the light
there, combined with years spent in a Fine Arts school for children, influenced
her to pursue an art career. Ms.
Agrich earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Fine Arts in Russia and
upon graduating started practicing Architecture in the Ukraine. She continued
her practice after moving to the United States in 1992, ultimately settling in
Denver. In 2001 she put aside the
drafting board to take up canvases and easels full-time. Frustrated by the restrictions of a
paintbrush, she replaced that tool with a palette knife, believing it best
portrays her bright, beautiful images.
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Lyudmila Agrich at Mirada Fine Art, Walking Home,
Oil on Canvas, 30" x 30" |
“Lyudmila expertly captures
rhythmic movement and illumination on a canvas,” enthuses gallery owner Steve
Sonnen. “Her work brings us to an energetic city, or surrounds us with the calm
found in nature. She is extremely popular nation-wide, but especially here in
Colorado, and we’re thrilled to have her unveil her latest work at Mirada.”
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| Lyudmila Agrich at Mirada Fine Art |
A reception with Lyudmila Agrich will be held on Friday, May 8 from
6-9pm at Mirada Fine Art Gallery. The exhibition will run through May 31st.
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Lyudmila Agrich at Mirada Fine Art, City at Dusk,
Oil on Canvas, 36 x 60" |
