Yaroslav Ponomarenko (1982) - Calla Lily

Una striking floral still life painting depicting a solitary calla lily emerging from an almost entirely dark background. The flower is reduced to an elegant sweep of deep violet and plum, with subtle blue and burgundy highlights tracing the curved surface of its petals. Fine green leaves extend horizontally through the composition, providing a restrained natural counterpoint to the darkness.

The painting is defined by its dramatic use of light and shadow. Much of the canvas remains in near-black tones, allowing the delicate illumination across the flower to become the focal point. The result is atmospheric and contemplative, with the calla lily appearing almost to emerge from the darkness rather than simply being placed against it.

The simplified composition gives the work a contemporary character while remaining rooted in the tradition of floral painting and still life art. Instead of presenting the flower as a conventional botanical study, the artist focuses on its silhouette, colour, texture and sensual curvature. The restrained palette of black, violet, purple, green and subtle blue creates a sophisticated and almost nocturnal atmosphere.

The work will appeal to collectors of original floral paintings, flower art, botanical-inspired art, contemporary still life, modern oil painting and impressionist-inspired painting. Its minimalist composition and strong tonal contrast also make it particularly suited to contemporary interiors, where the deep palette and luminous flower can create a dramatic visual focal point.

A refined and atmospheric original painting of a calla lily, combining botanical subject matter with expressive handling of colour, light and shadow.

Signed by the artist on the reverse.


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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.

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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
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