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Andrei Kushnir

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Vasylovych and the family name is Kushnir.
Andrei Kushnir
Андрій Кушнір
Born (1947-08-30) 30 August 1947 (age 77)
Regensburg, Germany
NationalityAmerican
Known forPainter
Websitewww.andreikushnir.com

Andrei Kushnir[a] (born August 30, 1947) is an American fine art painter. He is known for his landscapes, city views, and seascapes, but also has created genre, portraits and still life works. He is a resident of Maryland, with a studio in Washington, D.C.

Biography and career

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Andrei Kushnir was born in Regensburg, Germany, the son of Ukrainian parents who immigrated to the United States to escape Soviet communism.

He began painting in oils in 1980 and quickly progressed to painting landscapes on site. While essentially self-taught, Kushnir studied with artists Michael Francis[1] and Michele Martin Taylor.[citation needed] He developed his own naturalistic realist style, and has worked primarily outdoors, in every season and type of weather.[2][3][4][5]

In the 1980s, his works were shown in Washington, D.C. area exhibits.[6][7][8] In the 1990s, Kushnir began showing his work nationally. He was elected a Signature Member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society,[9] a member of the Salmagundi Club, NYC,[10] the Washington Society of Landscape Painters,[11] and was elected a juried Official U.S. Coast Guard Artist.[12] Kushnir's works were shown in competitive exhibitions throughout the United States.[13]

Sheep in the West Meadow. Collection of the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia.
Cherry Blossoms

During the early 21st century, Kushnir established and operated, with artist Michele Martin Taylor, art galleries in Manhattan, New York, and Ellicott City, Maryland, where they exhibited their own works and works of other mid-career American artists.[14] In 2006, Kushnir opened a studio and gallery in Washington, D.C., where he exhibited his works and those of other American artists with whom he has personally painted.[15] The landscape painter Alexangel Estevez[16] studied with Andrei Kushnir.[17]

Autumn, 1990

Kushnir promoted the scenic beauties of the Potomac River throughout his career as an artist. He was the founder of the Potomac River School artists, organizing exhibits for the group at the Sandy Spring Museum, Sandy Spring, Maryland, the American University Library and the American Painting Fine Art gallery, the latter two in Washington, D.C.[18] The Sandy Spring Museum in Sandy Spring, Maryland co-published an illustrated catalog about Kushnir's group of Potomac River painters.[19] Kushnir also devoted two of his own exhibitions of paintings to the Potomac River, My River and River Visions.[20] His painting Potomac Riverscape received the Juror's Choice Award at the 1st Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition, presented by University of Maryland University College, 2011.[21]

He worked from 2004 to 2015 painting en plein air landscapes throughout the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, including subjects of historical, cultural, and scenic importance.[22] The culmination of this project was the publication of Oh, Shenandoah by George F. Thompson Publishing, Staunton, Virginia, in December 2016.[23] The book contains 263 of the author's original paintings of the historic Shenandoah Valley and River. 71 of these paintings were exhibited from April 1 through September 11, 2016 at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, Virginia.[24] The book received favorable reviews, especially for the authenticity of its presentation of the Shenandoah Valley and its people.[25] An exhibition of 150 of the paintings from Oh, Shenandoah was held at the James Madison University Duke Gallery of Fine Art, Harrisonburg, Virginia, in May/June 2017.[26] An exhibition titled "Oh, Shenandoah: Landscapes of Diversity" of 52 of the paintings from Oh, Shenandoah was held from December 2018 to September 2019 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, in Richmond,[27] and a traveling version of the exhibit was organized by the museum.[28]

A follow-on project of plein air paintings along the interstate highways running through the Shenandoah Valley resulted in publication of Kushnir's book The Shenandoah Valley's Interstates, Plein Air Paintings Along I-81, I-66 and I-64 by George F. Thompson Publishing, Staunton, Virginia, in July 2024.[29]

Publications

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Other publications devoted to the artistic works of Kushnir include the C&O Canal, Potomac River, Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains and marine scenes as subjects.[30][31][32][33] The artist's non-fiction account of his father's life and times was published in 2020.[34]

New York, from Central Park

Collections

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The artist's works are in the permanent collections of the U.S. Coast Guard, District of Columbia's Commission of Arts & Humanities, University of Maryland University College, Maryland, Museum of Florida's Art and Culture, Avon Park, Florida, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia, The University Club, Washington, D.C. and presidents of the United States and Ukraine.[35]

Potomac Riverscape

Recognition

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Sky Meadows
  • Kushnir has been labeled a "true plein air artist."[36] He is known for his ability to capture "a sense of place."[37]
  • A Washington D.C. art critic stated: "Andrei Kushnir's eye has been his teacher" and "[p]ure landscape painters like Andrei Kushnir…reach back to the way the earth was once and hold it dear."[38]
  • Kushnir was the first living artist selected for a single artist exhibition at the Virginia Historical Society (VHS).[39]
  • The VHS published a special monograph for this exhibit, with essay by Lora Robins Curator of Art, William M.S. Rasmussen.[40]
  • The United States agency Voice of America produced a video news feature about the artist and this exhibition and broadcast it to Ukraine and other European countries in 2004.[41]
  • In 2008, Kushnir's portrait paintings of important Ukrainian Americans were included in an exhibit of persons of Ukrainian descent important in world history at the Ukraine House, in Kyiv, Ukraine.[42]
  • Kushnir was featured in publications of the Nature Conservancy related to the role of the artist in the protection and enjoyment of natural resources.[43]
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Notes

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  1. ^ Ukrainian: Андрій Васильович Кушнір, romanized: Andrii Vasylovych Kushnir

References

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  1. ^ "Galleries and Art Spaces," Weekend, Washington Post, October 7, 2011, p. 36
  2. ^ "Artist Andrei Kushnir's Paintings of the C&O Canal". Leaves Magazine. Vol. 79, no. 5. September–October 1998. pp. cover, 3, 11.
  3. ^ Gerasimos, Ann (October 4, 1999). "Font of Inspiration". The Washington Times. p. C4.
  4. ^ Pfoutz, Sally (April 2008). "A Poetic Summary". Élan Magazine. pp. 62–65.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ Magner, Jim (August 2006). "Artist Profile: Andrei Kushnir". Art and the City. Hill Rag. p. 94.
  6. ^ "Potomac Fever". Hill Rag. November 1998. p. 11.
  7. ^ "Apolitical 'Potomac Fever'". Roll Call. October 22, 1998. p. 23.
  8. ^ "En Plein Air". Montgomery Gazette. July 10, 1998. p. C7.
  9. ^ "NOAPS Signature Artists List". Retrieved May 9, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Members Profiles". Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  11. ^ http://www.wslp.org/WSLPartists.html Archived 2015-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 9, 2015; see also, http://www.outdoorpainter.com/news/100-years-the-washington-society-of-landscape-painters.html[permanent dead link‍], accessed on May 13, 2015.
  12. ^ "Exhibition Catalog," New Additions to the Coast Guard Art Program Collection, COGAP 2003, June 25, 2003, p. 11.
  13. ^ Holter Museum of Art, "ana 27" National Juried Exhibition Catalog, August 28, 1998; Bob Keefer, "A little art goes a long way," The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon), November 15, 1998, Arts & Books; "Artist Shines at Museum," News-Sun (Sebring, Florida), February 1, 1998; Jerry McClish, "'Art Alive' exhibit has invigorating art," The Longboat Observer, October 29, 1998, p. B2; Laurie Harrington, "Artist Andrei Kushnir," Highlands Today, February 22, 2000, p. 7; The Crane Collection, Exhibition Catalog, Little Picture Show, Nov. 1-Dec. 1, 2001, http://www.artnet.com/ag/fineartthumbnails.asp?cid=10434&page=3&group=1&max_tn_pa, accessed on November 26, 2001; "Kushnir to exhibit at Rehoboth Art League, Delaware Coast Press, July 30, 2003, p A60; "Andrei Kushnir," Delaware Beachcomber, August 8, 2003, p. 42 "'Old School Painters'" exhibit at UIA, The Ukrainian Weekly, May 1, 2005, p. 18; Alexander Gallery, "Artists Handled by Alexander Gallery," http://www.alexandergallery.com/gallery_artists.asp?offst=198[permanent dead link‍], accessed June 28, 2010; University of Maryland University College, "1st Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition," Art at UMUC, Adelphi, Maryland, 2012, http://www.umuc.edu/visitors/events/art/upload/ARTS-Fall-2011.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on May 13, 2015; "Exhibition Catalog," Oil Painters of America Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey, Michigan, 2013, http://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/events/exhibitions/2013/salon-petoskey/acceptance.cfm Archived 2015-05-01 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on May 20, 2015;
  14. ^ Sabrina Jones, "Main Street Addresses Gallery Owners' Need," Howard Extra, Washington Post, March 14, 2002, p. 5; "Andrei Kushnir and Michele Taylor:American Paintings," The VIEW from Ellicott City, March 31, 2002, p. 15; Sandy Alexander, "Landscape painters take their brushes indoors," Baltimore Sun, May 12, 2006, p. 3G; Marie Gullard, "A joint artistic endeavor," The Baltimore Examiner, Michele Taylor, "American Painting," 10003 Magazine (NYC), Vol. 1, No. 5, April, 2005, pp. 23,24; "'East Village Afternoon' exhibit highlights Ukrainian presence in NYC," The Ukrainian Weekly, Vol. 50, December 14, 2008, p. 17; Gallery Listings, The Village VOICE, February 24, 2009, http://www.villagevoice.com/locations/american-painting-fine-art-354600/ Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on February 24, 2009; also http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2009/5609, accessed on February 15, 2009; http://www.nysonglines.com/6st.htm, accessed on May 30, 2015.
  15. ^ Our Picks, "American Painting: Gallery Grand Opening," The Washington Post, September 3, 2006, p. M6; "American Painting Studio Gallery Opens in Washington, DC," Leaves, September/October 2006; "Galleries," Washington City Paper, September 8, 2006, p. 82.
  16. ^ Jim Magner, "Artist Profile: Alexangel Estevez," Art in the City, Hill Rag, October 2019, p. 54; "Stepping Out," Artists Magazine, December 2019, p. 73.
  17. ^ "American Landscape Paintings," American Painting Press, October 2019, ISBN 978-0-578-54554-7
  18. ^ Exhibitions, Maine Antique Digest, June 2008, p. 31B "Galleries and art spaces" section, Weekend, Washington Post, July 30, 2010, p. 38; February Calendar, "Modern Painters, Potomac River School," Washington Woman Online, accessed at http://www.washingtonwoman.com/articles/1002/calendar.shtml Archived 2010-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, February 13, 2010.
  19. ^ Sandy Spring Museum, Potomac River School, Lyrical Modern American Landscape Paintings (Washington, D.C.; American Painting Press, 2009), ISBN 978-0-9841837-0-8
  20. ^ Ann Gerasimos, "Font of Inspiration," Washington Times, Metropolitan Life Section, October 4, 1999, p. C4, accessed on May 20, 2015.
  21. ^ "Our Culture Wars, The 1st Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition," Al Zaruba, Baltimore Examiner, Faith and Culture, August 10, 2011.
  22. ^ Jennie Vincent, "DC artist to feature local buildings," The Journal (Martinsburg, WVA), June 16, 2011, pp. A1, 2.
  23. ^ "GFT Publishing - Andrei Kushnir". gftbooks.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  24. ^ "Painting the Valley". Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. March 1, 2016.
  25. ^ MAURER, DAVID A. (25 March 2017). "'Oh, Shenandoah' captures abiding love of the land in paintings". The Daily Progress.
  26. ^ Johnson, Aleda. "Scenic Shenandoah - Painter's Landscapes Of The Valley To Be Shown At Duke Hall Gallery" (PDF). Weekend. Daily News-Record. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  27. ^ "Virginia Museum of History & Culture Events on July 18, 2019 - Richmond CultureWorks". calendar.richmondcultureworks.org.
  28. ^ "Oh, Shenandoah Traveling Exhibition". Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
  29. ^ "GFT Publishing - Andrei Kushnir".
  30. ^ "Painted Seasons, Autumn 1990 Series and Other Paintings of the C&O Canal," American Painting Fine Art, October 2010, ISBN 978-0-9841837-1-5; "River Visions," American Painting Fine Art, April, 2013, ISBN 978-0-9841837-3-9.
  31. ^ "Oh, Shenandoah, Paintings of the Historic Valley and River by Andrei Kushnir," December 2016, ISBN 978-1-938086-41-0.
  32. ^ "Blue Ridge Paintings," October 2017, ISBN 978-0-9841837-4-6.
  33. ^ "Small Marine Paintings," October 2018, ISBN 978-0-9841837-2-2.
  34. ^ "Epic Journey, The Life and Times of Wasyl Kushnir," Academic Studies Press, Boston, 2020,ISBN 978-1-64469-109-0.
  35. ^ The Salmagundi Club, "Highlights & Half-tones," Salmagundi Stew, September 2001, p. 4; COGAP 2003, "New Additions to the Coast Guard Art Program Collection," June 25, 2003, p. 11; DCCAH Art Bank, "Andrei Kushnir, 'Potomac at Fletcher's'", oil on panel, accessed on May 13, 2015.
  36. ^ Sherry Hamilton, "Outdoor landscape artist visits Pig Hill," Gloucester-Mathews (Virginia) Gazette-Journal, May 27, 2010, p. 5A.
  37. ^ Diane Mercado, "Florida landscapes on display Sunday," Weekend Section, Highlands Today, January 30, 1998, p. 6. See also, "Artist Shines at Museum," News-Sun (Sebring, Florida), February 1, 1998 [Ibid.];
  38. ^ Jim Magner, "Artist Profile: Andrei Kushnir," Art and the City, Hill Rag, August 2006, p. 94.
  39. ^ ""Painted History: The Landscapes of Valley View Farm," Current Exhibitions, Virginia Historical Society". Retrieved July 24, 2004.[dead link‍]
  40. ^ Andrei Kushnir, Painted History: The Landscapes of Valley View Farm (Charlottesville, Virginia, Howell Press, 2004), ISBN 1-57427-150-4
  41. ^ VOA "Window on America," Broadcast # 547, broadcast in Ukraine on March 27, 2004, Channel UT-1.
  42. ^ "American artists commissioned to create portraits of notable Ukrainians," The Ukrainian Weekly, No. 32, August 10, 2008, p. 22, , accessed on September 1, 2015.
  43. ^ Danielle S. Furlich, "Painting in Plein Air," Nature Conservancy Magazine, Vol. 58, No. 1, Spring 2008, pp. 52-58; "Nature Inspires Art," Nature Conservancy 2012 Annual Report, p. 33.
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