Yaroslav Ponomarenko (1982) - Hot

An original oil painting by Ukrainian artist Yaroslav Ponomarenko (b. 1982), depicting a single elongated red chilli pepper suspended from a natural cord against a rich deep teal-blue background.

Titled Hot, the work takes an exceptionally simple subject and presents it with a striking sense of isolation and visual tension. The vivid red of the chilli contrasts strongly with the cool turquoise ground, while the green leaves and slender stem introduce subtle variations of colour and texture. The cord from which the pepper hangs becomes an integral part of the composition, giving the still life an almost sculptural quality.

Ponomarenko pays close attention to the texture, highlights and natural curvature of the pepper, creating a convincing sense of volume while retaining the clean, uncluttered character of the composition. The saturated palette and vertical format give the painting a contemporary appearance, while its careful observation of an everyday natural object connects it to the tradition of botanical and still-life painting.

The reverse is handwritten by the artist with the title “Hot”, the year 2026, the medium oil on fiberboard and the dimensions.

A distinctive original work for collectors of contemporary still life, botanical art, food and fruit paintings, realism and original oil paintings.

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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