Andrii was born in 1977 in the Ukraine. In his youth, Andrii showed a great appreciation for the arts. In 1991, Andrii began his studies in the Fine Arts at the Dnipropetrovsk State Art College. Andrii apprenticed in the painting department until 1996. In 1997, Andrii advanced his studies at the National Academy of Fine Arts. He received his degree in the specialty of painting and fine art restoration in 2004. From 2005 until the present, Andrii has held an esteemed title as a master painter and art restorer at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Ukraine, as well as the Museum of Theater Music and Cinema of Ukraine. Andrii is best known for his romantic contemporary floral compositions, in addition to his dynamic seascapes, and landscapes. This intermittent style allows his work to cross boundaries between classic and contemporary. Andrii’s classical training in the arts allows him to appreciate traditional styling, while breaking into a genre all his own. The rich texture and layers of color found in his paintings merge to create complex compositions that transport the viewer to another place in time. When looking at one of his seascapes, one can almost hear the waves on the surface of the shoreline. Andrii effortlessly paints his botanical masterpieces ‘floating’ on the canvas. Andrii paints with 100% pure pigmented oil paint, directly on the canvas with a palette knife. His expressive palette knife strokes mimic the waves of the ocean, and his unique ability to capture and bend light creates subtle and beautiful reflections from the sun. His stirring images create memories of moments in time to be cherished for lifetimes to come. Andrii Afanasiev currently resides in the Ukraine with his wife. He is represented exclusively in the United States by Art Leaders Gallery.