American_Art_Collector_-_December_2016

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AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

other. He also enjoys switching from one
material to the next. “If I had to use one
medium for the rest of my life, I would fi nd
that restrictive,” Akhriev shares. “Changing
media from time to time is refreshing to all
your senses.”
At Peace is a brand-new pastel work the
artist fi nished in October after working
with a model in the studio. “One morning
before she departed I asked if we could
consider several compositions I had
in mind. The time was early morning,
very quiet, in a courtyard with white
walls. Everything was perfectly calm.
We made sketches and photos,” he says.
“While reviewing our materials, I felt
like the session refl ected an awakening.
Because the model was not actually
levitating, obviously, I had to invent the

bounce lights on the fi gure from below.

Simplifying the background brought the

focus to the form, light and mood of the

woman.”

Akhriev is represented by Lovetts Gallery

in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Beverly McNeil Gallery

in Birmingham, Alabama; and at Gallery

K.Art.Ina in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Akhriev received the American Art

Collector Award of Excellence for the Silver

Medal Award, Associate Signature Division

at the Oil Painters of America 25th annual

National Juried Exhibition.

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