“My goal is not to make painting look like a photo, but to use colors to convey the joy and light.”
The Artistic Journey of Sergei Moskalev: From Penza to Mastery
Sergei Moskalev was born in 1970 in the Western part of Russia in a small city called Penza. Since his early childhood, he has shown notable talents in the arts. When he was already nine years old he was recognized for his ability to draw and knew that in his future he was destined to be an artist.
In 1986 Moskalev graduated from the Penza Art Studio and soon after entered the Penza Art College and the Academy of Arts named after the Russian realist painter Konstantin Savitsky. There Moskalev had the opportunity to study under Russian Master Painters. After school, his personal studies never ended and to this day Moskalev continues to learn from the works of great artists such as Velázquez, Caravaggio, Feshin, Semiratsky, Korovin, Vrubel, Manet, and Turner.
Soon after graduating from all of his studies in 1990, Moskalev moved to the culturally influential city of Moscow, one year before it was titled as the capital of the country. Two years later he entered the UNESCO International Federation of Artists. Throughout his first years in the bustling city, Moskalev showed in galleries throughout Russia and even began to cooperate with art galleries in European countries.
A Journey Home: Artistic Transformation and Spiritual Awakening in Israel
These years in partnership with galleries in France and Spain significantly impacted his artistic style. In this time Moskalev learned to master the techniques of using a palette knife to convey colors as “juicier” and cleaner. For the artist, this time traveling and showing in Europe greatly influenced his uniquely colorful and tranquil style.
Although grateful for the international opportunities to expose his work and further develop his abilities, Moskalev always felt the weight of being so far from his Jewish homeland. In 2004 he finally decided to make the move to repatriate to Israel. Upon Aliyah (immigration to Israel by Jewish people) he became an honorary member of the Israeli Art Association as granted by the Ministry of Absorption, and entered into cooperation with the art galleries of Israel. In 2007 Moskalev then received membership of the Association of Professional Artists of Israel.
Once in Israel, Moskalev found himself spiritually, emotionally, and artistically as a practicing Jew, and a professional painter. He was surrounded by daily inspirations in the holiest city he had ever had the pleasure of seeing, Jerusalem. He started painting for the people who visited the Ancient City and wanted to take home a piece of the magic. As well as for those who could not visit, but felt called to hold a piece of the spiritual sites with them.
“Gold, for me, represents the paint that has always symbolized the sun. I aspire to have more rays of sunlight in my paintings.”
Illuminating the Sacred: Capturing the Light of Jerusalem in Art
In his art, Moskalev paints Jerusalem’s holy sites to convey the joy and light emanating from them. The artist takes his compositions very seriously, ensuring that all colors, spots and brushstrokes sit in their proper places and that the shades transition smoothly from one to another. The various techniques he developed from his international training advanced his individual style, bringing a sense of awe reflective of the holy site in his compositions.
Today Moskalev’s art may be found in private and public collections of ambassadors, ministers, governors, and mayors of Russia, Israel, and the US. As well he has exhibited all over Europe, North America, Russia, and Israel.
“I paint Jerusalem and the holy places for all Jews”