Viktor Sheleg
Key points
Origin: Born in 1962 in Russia, lives and works in Kalngale, Latvia.
Style: Fusion between abstraction and figuration, with a dominance of bright and contrasting colors.
Themes: Female representations, tension between social conformity and individual freedom.
Technique: Instinctive painting, play on textures, superimpositions, neon bursts.
Born in 1962 in Russia and now based in Kalngale, Latvia, Viktor Sheleg embodies a singular figure in the contemporary art scene. An instinctive painter, a bold colorist, and a keen observer of the human psyche, he creates a body of work in which each canvas becomes a territory of emotion, tension, and transformation.
A vision free from conformity
Sanguinello (2023), Viktor Sheleg, Oil on Canvas, 80x120 cm
Sheleg develops a deeply personal aesthetic, built around the duality between social conformity and the quest for inner freedom. This questioning runs through his entire work: the female bodies he paints, often veiled in mystery and bathed in artificial light, seem suspended between constraint and abandon, between pose and movement.
In his paintings, the human figure is sometimes deconstructed to the point of bordering on abstraction, while retaining a powerful emotional charge. His women , in particular, are the silent heroines of visual narratives in which we perceive both vulnerability and strength.
An electric and expressive palette
Lady Kaleidoscope (2023), Viktor Sheleg, Oil on Canvas, 100x150 cm
What immediately strikes you about Viktor Sheleg is his instinctive mastery of color . His works are shot through with fluorescent bursts, thick textures, and subtle transparencies. He is not afraid of contrast: deep blacks sit side by side with acidic neons, and realistic faces emerge from shattered, almost psychedelic backgrounds.
The most striking example is Sanguinello , where a female body unfolds in a sensual chaos of neon pink, burning orange, and acid green. The image seems to be born and unraveled at the same time. In Nefertiti XXI Century , the hypnotic gaze of a face half-immersed in shadow creates an almost cinematic tension, while the colors burst in the background like an inner explosion. Finally, Lady Kaleidoscope offers us a visual, almost melancholic introspection, where solitude becomes poetic.
An international presence and won over collectors
Nefertiti XXI Century (2022), Viktor Sheleg, Acrylic on Canvas 100x200 cm
Viktor Sheleg is no marginal artist: he has exhibited in numerous countries, from Russia to the United States, including Finland, Germany, Sweden, Spain, and Italy. His presence at major art fairs— Art Zurich , The Affordable Art Fair in London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam , and AAF NYC —testifies to the growing interest he is generating on the international scene.
From 1990 to 2019, Sheleg created over 1,900 works , almost all of which are now part of private collections. This figure alone speaks volumes about the constant demand for his work —and the quiet but solid recognition he receives.
An artist to follow closely
What makes Viktor Sheleg's work so precious is his ability to create a raw, contemporary emotion , without ever sacrificing the depth of the artistic gesture. His instantly recognizable style remains in perpetual evolution: it innovates, it disturbs, it captivates.
For those seeking works with a strong personality, vibrant with energy and charged with meaning, Viktor Sheleg stands out as an essential figure . Each painting is an encounter, a suspended moment, an intimate explosion.
FAQ – Viktor Sheleg
What is Viktor Sheleg's artistic style?
He mixes figuration and abstraction with a very emotional and instinctive approach, where color is central.
Are his works present internationally?
Yes, he has exhibited in more than 10 countries and participated in major fairs such as Art Zurich, AAF Paris, NYC, London…
Why is it interesting to collect his works?
His unique style, his international recognition and the rarity of his available works make him a very relevant choice.
Are his paintings only figurative?
No. They oscillate between expressive figuration (often feminine) and abstract elements, sometimes very experimental.
What kind of emotion do his works convey?
A mixture of sensuality, melancholy and inner power.
Nicolas Sarazin
