le violoncelliste Printmaking by Raya Sorkine

Raya Sorkine (1936-2022) was a contemporary French artist. Born in Paris in 1936, Raya experienced a unique upbringing during World War II, as he and his mother, who was a Russian Jewish immigrant, remained in hiding. They lived with his mother's family, whose name he adopted, and this combination of Slavic and Semitic influences left a profound mark on his life. Throughout his artistic career, he continually sought to capture and express this cultural blend in his paintings. Despite being born in France, he felt a deep connection to Russia, a place he never actually visited but only experienced through the stories, dreams, and memories shared by his mother. Raya is often described as a "child of the ball."

At the age of twelve, he left formal education, and by the age of fourteen, armed with a small sketchbook, he embarked on a nomadic journey, sleeping under the open sky. His travels took him across Europe, Scandinavia, and the Middle East, where he created art along the way. Later, he acquired a caravan, allowing him to continue his adventures. Over the course of nearly two decades of wandering, he scattered his numerous paintings across the globe and had four marriages, resulting in seven daughters.

Raya Sorkine's art is a vibrant and joyful spectacle, a testament to the love that shaped his heritage. He is an heir to a rich lineage in the history of art, having witnessed and been influenced by various artistic movements, from classicism and impressionism to the explosion of modern art and the works of Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, and Marc Chagall. His artistic process often involved painting at night while listening to what he referred to as "his music," which encompassed cosmic and religious themes. His paintings are deeply infused with the influences of both Slavic and Jewish cultures.

• Nationality: FRANCE
• Date of birth : 1936
• Artistic domains: Represented by a Gallery,
• Groups: Contemporary French Artists Artists presented by a gallery