Valery Yemtsev, born in the south of Ukraine near the Sea of Azov, now resides in Krakow, Poland. The warm, sunny climate of his homeland often lingers in his memories, influencing his artistic vision. From a young age, Yemtsev was drawn to creative activities, spending hours molding fantastic animal figures from plasticine. By age eleven, vivid, colorful dreams of flying through picturesque landscapes sparked his fascination with the contrast between dreams and reality.
Yemtsev’s journey into the world of painting began under the guidance of his first art teacher, who recognized his talent when he painted a bird in watercolor. This encouragement ignited his passion for academic painting and drawing. His formal education at the Textile Institute’s Department of Fashion Modeling introduced him to modern art concepts and a scientific approach to art, under the tutelage of avant-garde artists from the Soviet era. This period, which he calls “Art as Science,” laid the foundation for his exploration of art as a structured and spatially organized form.
