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Born in Altai, one of Russia's most remote towns,
Viktor Shvaiko grew up surrounded by the
beauty of the wilderness. His natural inclination
for fine arts and his strong urge to share his vision
of nature drove him to find a way into the
Novoaltaisk Artiste School, one of the best
schools for the arts in the former Soviet Union.
Stifling under the lingering effect of the Russian
bureaucracy, and unable to get a visa to a
Western country, Shvaiko was permitted to
travel to Yugoslavia. In the confusion of the civil
war, he fled to Italy with his paintings strapped
to his back, often encountering gunfire from
roving bands of militia.
Having arrived in Italy virtually penniless, Viktor
survived by selling his paintings on the streets of
Rome. After saving money he returned to a more
liberalized Russia, and finally to America. It was
here in New York, that Viktor developed his
penchant for painting the little cafes and other
intimate places that we see in his work today.
His enticing mix of beauty and mystery has
drawn the interest and admiration of collectors
from around the world.
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