Rose and Grape, 2019

Volodymyr Kovalov  

This contemporary still life by Volodymyr Kovalov explores color, texture, and painterly expression through a vibrant floral composition. Executed as an oil painting, the work depicts a lush bouquet of roses arranged in a glass vase, accompanied by grapes and fruit placed on a table surface. Bold impasto brushstrokes and expressive handling of paint replace detailed realism, allowing color relationships and texture to dominate the composition. Rich yellows, whites, reds, and soft pinks contrast with deep greens and a dark, muted background, creating a strong sense of depth and visual rhythm. Light emerges through thick layers of paint, emphasizing the material presence of flowers, leaves, and objects. Rooted in expressionism and contemporary art, this still life transforms everyday motifs—flowers, fruit, and glass—into a dynamic, emotionally charged composition. The painting celebrates abundance, movement, and the sensual qualities of oil paint, inviting the viewer to experience still life as a living, energetic presence rather than a static arrangement.