Arina Gordienko, based in the UK, is a multi-award winning figurative realist artist. She exhibited her works at Saatchi Gallery in London, European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) in Barcelona, Museum of Fantastic Art in Vienna, Museum of Modern Art Vittoria Colonna in Pescara, OSTEN Museum of Drawing and other venues in the UK, USA, Australia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, Belgium Germany, Check Republic, Macedonia and India. Arina completed academic art education including MFA in Painting (Chelsea College of Arts), BFA (Central Saint Martins College of Art), both University of the Arts in London, and also Distinction Certificate in Fine Arts at Art College in Russia.

Arina is a winner and finalist of numerous national and international contests in the UK, USA and Europe such as Saatchi Art of Giving National Competition, ModPortrait, ARC Salon, Arte Laguna Art Prize, Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, IBPC an WMOCA, International Artist Magazine, Derwent Fine Art Award, Art Gemini Prize, Mortimore Art Prize, LICC – London International Creative Competition, The Artist’s Magazine, NOACC Public Choice Award etc. Her paintings twice went through the second round of the BP Portrait Award at National Portrait Gallery in London. She has a status of Associate Living Master of the Art Renewal Center in USA. Her paintings published in various art books, catalogues and magazines, incl. ‘Strokes of Genius’ Edition 4 & 6, American Art Collector, International Artist Magazine, Leonardo Art Guide 2020, Art and Freedom Yearbook XIV, PoetsArtists various publications and International Realism ARC Salon editions 14th, 13th & 12th.

Arina dedicates herself to realistic traditions in painting, combining traditional classical techniques with imaginative compositions and contemporary palette. In her work she uses the old Masters classic layering 'sfumato' tecknique. Her style can be described as imaginative realism where personages placed into artist’s imaginary world and circumstances. Her works are minimalistic and reserved yet emotionally and intellectually provoking. Most often she portrays her characters with a direct gaze that triggers a special eye contact that is a form of nonverbal communication implying close relationship between the artist and viewers. She is inviting her audience to experience all the hidden emotions and deep inner feelings revealed in her personage. Her works may emerge dramatic or ironic yet they consistently enrolled with an intellectual riddle and philosophical content appealing to curious, sophisticated and peculiar minds.