Yaroslav Ponomarenko (1982) - Sweet Strawberries

Sweet Strawberries presents a simple still life with remarkable concentration and restraint. Several ripe strawberries are arranged within a transparent cut glass, their vivid red surfaces emerging from an almost entirely black setting. The familiar subject is transformed through Yaroslav Ponomarenko’s careful observation of light, transparency and texture.

The glass is rendered with particular precision, its faceted surface catching subtle reflections while allowing the strawberries to remain visible through it. Against the dark ground, the fruit becomes luminous, with variations of crimson, scarlet and muted green revealing the natural irregularities of their surfaces.

There is a quiet classical quality to the composition. Ponomarenko reduces the scene to its essential elements, allowing the intense colour of the fruit and the delicate complexity of the glass to carry the image. The result is intimate and contemplative, balancing the sensuality of the subject with the discipline of traditional still life painting.

Signed by the artist on the reverse.

⸻

Yaroslav Ponomarenko (b. 1982, Kharkiv, Ukraine) is a contemporary painter whose practice is grounded in the technical discipline and visual language of European Old Master traditions.

Trained at the Kharkiv Art Lyceum and later at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, Ponomarenko developed a rigorous approach to drawing, composition, and pictorial structure. His work reflects an ongoing engagement with historical methods, informed by extended study of classical painting techniques and the material processes of European schools.

Working primarily within still life and symbolic composition, he focuses on the precise observation of natural forms, often isolating modest subjects and rendering them with a heightened sense of clarity and restraint. Light and tonal construction play a central role in his practice, allowing objects to emerge gradually from subdued atmospheric grounds.

Alongside his studio work, Ponomarenko has been active as an educator, contributing to the transmission of classical techniques through structured teaching and research. This dual engagement with practice and pedagogy informs a body of work that is both technically exacting and conceptually measured.

His paintings situate themselves within a contemporary revival of classical realism, where historical continuity is approached not as imitation, but as a disciplined and evolving language.

Yaroslav Ponomarenko is represented by Havisham & Co., where his paintings are introduced to collectors through curated sales and selected auction placements.

⸻

Havisham & Co.

Havisham & Co. is a London-based fine art agency representing contemporary artists whose work engages with heritage, symbolism, and classical craftsmanship. The agency facilitates the placement of original artworks through curated sales, private transactions, and selected international auction platforms.

Instagram: @havishamco
Website: www.havishamco.com
Email: info@havishamco.com

International shipments may be subject to customs duties and import taxes, which are determined by local authorities and are the responsibility of the buyer.