About Violetta Kurbanova
Born in Southern Russia, Violetta grew up surrounded by scenic views of the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea. As a little girl with big dreams and an even bigger imagination, Violetta often wandered around her town, chasing views of the sunset and the cascading waves of the sea.
Violetta’s love for the environment awakened her passion for artistry. More than an outlet, art became her refuge, her solace and her strength. She drew everything that captivated her, from the falling autumn leaves to the mesmerising horizon that separates hills and seas. Little she may be, but her love for drawing and painting was bigger than the mountains surrounding her.
Even before she finished High School with a formal qualification as an artist, she already had a strong foundation in arts. At the age of 14, Violetta attended Krasnodar National Art School, where she learned the basics of drawing, painting and sculpture. Thanks to her training, she learned how to use different art mediums at a young age. When she entered a college university, she became the art editor of the student newspaper.
Aside from her love for art, Violetta grew fond of numbers. After obtaining a college degree in Applied Mathematics, she worked as a software programmer for 17 years. However, despite the demands of her job, she still managed to cultivate her artistic skills that she later used when she completely lived an artist’s life.
In 2008, Violetta and her family took a big leap of faith and migrated to Australia, where she met like-minded people. Back then, she was already a mother of three, but this did not stop her from fulfilling her lifelong dream. She decided to become a full-time artist.
As a natural-born explorer, Violetta travelled around Australia with a suitcase full of painting tools. The country did not disappoint her love for nature as it is home to amazing land and seascapes.
Violetta’s masterpieces are a fusion of silk painting and watercolouring. As she further experimented with her techniques, she discovered the beauty of combining these two strategies for painting seascapes. Her unique take on these mediums enables her to portray images in a real, raw and authentic way.
Aside from being featured in popular exhibits and art shows, her paintings are in Australia, America, England, Germany, Luxembourg, Canada, Japan, Italia and Russia private collections.
ARTIST’S COMMENT
“For me, watercolour and silk painting successfully portray the two faces of nature–strong, powerful and unpredictable on one side and gentle, delicate and fragile on the other.”
EXHIBITIONS
International Watercolour Society First IWS International Watercolor Biennale, South Korea – The Beauty of Life
International Watercolour Society First Watercolor Festival IWS Russia 2021 – Watercolor with Love
Hunters Hills art exhibition Pop Up
Drummoyne Art Prize
Randwick Art Prize
Pyrmont Art Prize
Sydney Royal Easter Art & Craft Show
Maroubra South Art show
“Art of Tea” – solo exhibition – Chinese Cultural Centre, Chatswood
ArtSHINE Gallery
Platform 72 Art Gallery exhibitions
Prince of Wales Hospital Solo Exhibitions
AWARDS
Finalist – International Watercolour Society First IWS International Watercolor Biennale, South Korea – The Beauty of Life – 2021
Finalist – International Watercolour Society First Watercolor Festival IWS Russia 2021 – Watercolor with Love – 2021
Finalist – 29th Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition – 2020
Highly Commended – Drummoyne Art Prize – 2020
Finalist – Hunters Hills art prize – 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015
1st place in watercolour – 59 City of Ryde art exhibition – 2019
2nd Prize – 19th South Maroubra Art Show – 2019
2nd place in watercolour, Highly Commended – Randwick Art Society 9th Annual Exhibition – 2019
Highly Commended – 18th South Maroubra Art Show – 2018
Highly Commended, Commended – 27th Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition – 2018
Highly Commended – Randwick Art Society 8th Annual Exhibition – 2018
Runner Up, Highly Commended – Randwick Art Society 7th Annual Exhibition – 2017
1st place in watercolour, Highly Commended – Randwick Art Society 6th Annual Exhibition – 2016
PUBLICATIONS
“Australian Artist” June 2017
“Australia Artist’s Palette” magazine No.155 on September 2017
