Yaroslav Ponomarenko (1982) - Cheese and Grapes

In Cheese and Grapes, Yaroslav Ponomarenko presents a contemplative still life in which a cluster of deep purple grapes rests beside a piece of richly textured blue-veined cheese. Set against an almost black background, the simple arrangement is transformed into an intimate study of colour, texture and light. The luminous highlights on the grapes and the irregular surface of the cheese emerge gradually from the surrounding darkness, creating a quiet sense of depth and presence.

Ponomarenko approaches the traditional still life with a restrained contemporary sensibility, combining subtle tonal transitions with carefully observed textures and dramatic chiaroscuro. The dark palette gives the composition a timeless, almost nocturnal character, while the simplicity of the subject allows the material qualities of the food to become the central focus. The result is a refined contemporary oil painting that connects the tradition of European still life with a modern appreciation for atmosphere, silence and visual restraint.

SKU: HCO-YP-261003-4837

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
Email: info@havishamco.com

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