Andrew Atroshenko was born in 1965 in the
city of Pokrovsk, Russia. Accepted as a gifted child in 1977 into the
Children’s Art School, Andrew graduated with honors in 1981.
Two years later, Andrew entered
Bryansk Art College, and in 1991 was accepted at one of the most
prestigious art schools in the world, the St. Petersburg Academy of Art.
In 1994, Andrew began taking part in
exhibitions such as St. Petersburg Artists in Reutlingen, Germany, the
exhibition of a group “Academy” in St. Petersburg (1996), and “Teacher’s
Memory” (1997).
After graduation from St. Petersburg
Academy of Art in 1999, Andrew was invited by a New England, US based
art group “Bay Arts” to take part in their exhibitions and activities,
spending that entire year in the United States into the Millennium.
According to Andrew, “This year in
America gave me more as an artist than all eight years of my formal
studies in the prestigious Russian academies. I am a descendent of
farmers, and I was impressed by the New England’s landscapes, and how a
man in America avoids harming its environment. After seeing Royo and
Pino at Art-Expo New York 2000, I suddenly realized what direction I
want to take my art in. After staying for a year in the United States, I
spent two years in Russia perfecting my art. "
While Andrew’s work was being sold
successfully in galleries across Florida, California, Ohio and Arizona,
the artist was taking part in a variety of group exhibitions and
auctions in France, which resulted in all of his work being sold out.
Since 2000, Andrew has worked with
dealers from Western Europe and the US, exhibiting and selling his
paintings in such US cities as Carmel , Scottsdale, Palm Desert, Las
Vegas & Hawaii. Two of Andrew’s pieces were also auctioned off by
Sotheby’s in 2002 and 2003.
In 1992 Andrew married a fellow
student, Maria, who is now an art critic in St Petersburg, Russia, and
has a daughter named Alexandra. Like many artists, Andrew has his
artistic references and influences, but his wife and daughter are the
inspiration for his passion.