Yaroslav Ponomarenko (1982) - Grapes and Gentle Light

In Grapes and Gentle Light, Yaroslav Ponomarenko presents an elegant study of suspended fruit, transforming an everyday subject into an exercise in balance, light and stillness. A compact cluster of dark grapes hangs delicately from a fine thread against a luminous turquoise background, where subtle tonal variations create an atmosphere of calm refinement.

Executed with exceptional technical precision, each grape possesses its own individuality through nuanced hues of deep violet, crimson and midnight blue. The bloom on the fruit, the delicate tendrils and the softly illuminated vine leaf reveal the artist's remarkable attention to natural detail, while the gentle cast shadow reinforces the convincing illusion of depth.

Rather than arranging the fruit upon a traditional tabletop, Ponomarenko suspends it in space, creating a contemporary interpretation of the classical still life. The restrained composition allows the interplay between light, colour and negative space to become the true subject of the work.

The painting evokes themes of abundance, transience and the quiet beauty of ordinary objects observed with extraordinary care. Its refined simplicity and impeccable execution exemplify the artist's distinctive approach to contemporary realism.

Oil on fibreboard.

30 × 20 cm.

2026.

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
Website: www.havishamco.com
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