Zhenya Gershman, a US-based artist who painted a shot by Anadolu Agency reporter Wolfgang Schwan that serves as a “symbol” of Ukraine’s war, said the process of selling the painting for $100,000 and sending the funds to Ukraine was both surprising and pleasant.
“First Face of War: Intimate Portrait of Ukrainian Teacher, 2022,” an oil painting by Gershman, was sold for $100,000 on Thursday, with the proceeds going to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, according to Heritage Auctions, a worldwide antiques auctioneer.
According to the statement, Gershman painted the now-iconic photograph of Olena Kurilo, who had a bandaged and bloodied face and head, taken by Schwan on the second day of the battle on Feb. 25.
In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, the Los Angeles-based artist said: “That was the only way I could communicate my feelings, so I went to Google, our 21st-century buddies, and typed in three phrases. I typed up ‘Ukraine, war, victim,’ and it brought up Wolfgang’s photo of Olena.”
“Olena’s eyes were saying something. They were dubbed “talking eyes” by me. ‘Zhenya, please paint me,’ they asked, actually speaking to me. I didn’t think twice; I picked up my tool, my brush, and painted it all night. I didn’t stop; it was all done in one go “she stated
Gershman received her master’s degree in painting in California after opening her first show at the age of 14 in Russia’s St. Petersburg.She said she was disappointed at first when the first bidding for her painting was at $1.
“I felt ‘Oh my God, what have I done.’ What I thought, maybe art does not matter in this world anymore and now I’m going to be embarrassed in front of the whole world.
“But, it quickly started to rise and it was a joy to see how many people were supporting and bidding. Never did I expect that that $1 would garner five more zeros next to it and sell for the grand total of $100,000,” she said.
Gershman said her artist and activist friend Adrian Roup told her that her painting could be sold at an auction with the proceeds to be sent to Ukraine, and that his cousin Julian Roup, who works in advertising, arranged the Heritage Auction.
Gershman emphasized that Nancy Valentina, the auction house’s director who ensured that premiums were not deducted from the sale and that all the proceeds reached the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, deserves as much thanks as photojournalist Schwan, and Adrian and Julian Roup.
Born in Moscow and immigrating to the US with her family, Gershman said she grew up in a family that believes artists should live in a free country in order to express themselves.
She said her grandfather, Mihail Matusovsky, was born in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine and was a famous poet.