Akim Levich (1933-2019) was a Ukranian nonconformist artist. The rigid Soviet society placed restrictions on artistic expression, but Levich's roots in children's book illustration let him develop an emotive and independent practice outside of societal norms. Most of his work, as a result, was kept secret until the mid-1980s. Levich's paintings live in a space nearing abstraction without quite crossing the line into incomprehensibility. His use of colors close in value often means that distinctions in shape are made by his brushstrokes, which are rich, textured, and intentionally directional. They create an intriguing first impression, but is only by lingering on them for a moment longer that a viewer is able to parse what exactly Levich was conveying.
Oil on Canvas 28 x 33 ″
Akim Levich (1933-2019) was a Ukranian nonconformist artist. The rigid Soviet society placed restrictions on artistic expression, but Levich's roots in children's book illustration let him develop an emotive and independent practice outside of societal norms. Most of his work, as a result, was kept secret until the mid-1980s. Levich's paintings live in a space nearing abstraction without quite crossing the line into incomprehensibility. His use of colors close in value often means that distinctions in shape are made by his brushstrokes, which are rich, textured, and intentionally directional. They create an intriguing first impression, but is only by lingering on them for a moment longer that a viewer is able to parse what exactly Levich was conveying.
