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Biography

Contemporary Russian-American artist Nikita Budkov was born in Zvenigorod, a suburb of Moscow, Russia on August 16, 1995. As a young boy, he enjoyed reading classic fairytales, science fiction novels, and comics, which all helped shape his imagination and eventually inspired him to express his thoughts through pencil drawings. During his teen years, he became a fan of British and American rock and was later exposed to various genres including symphonic music. Budkov says, “Music is an eternal companion on my career journey.”

As a child, Nikita received his training at the Children’s Art School Program in Odintsovo and successfully graduated with honors. He then enrolled in an architectural course at the Moscow Architecture Institute with the goal of becoming a professional architect. However, his life changed greatly after he had an opportunity to come to the United States of America in 2012 as an exchange student. Upon graduating from Cotter High School in Minnesota, where he was crowned Homecoming King, Budkov was awarded an honorable mention in Scholastic Art & Writing from the state of Minnesota. From this point, he was inspired to pursue a career in traditional fine art.

Budkov traveled to Los Angeles to study traditional painting from a different perspective and to master his artistic skills. For three years he studied full time at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art and taught two classes at LAAFA during the summer of his senior year. Budkov graduated with top honors from LAAFA and is now a member of the widely recognized and prestigious California Art Club as well as Assistant to the renowned California plein air artist Peter Adams.

Nikita Budkov’s painting style is based on contemporary realism, and his visual storytelling often includes mythological and ancient symbolic elements. Artist Statement: “Above all, I appreciate ambient atmosphere, and pursue the mystical and the beautiful qualities of life.”

 

Selected Awards and Honors

2023
Tehachapi Arts Commission 1st Place for Best Urban, Like a Summer Day, Villa La Paz, National Chavel Center

2021
Realism Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America

2021
Best Artist Under 30, 11th Annual Plein Air Salon August Competition, Plein Air Magazine

2021
First Place Overall, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon February Competition, Plein Air Magazine

2021
ARC 15th Salon Finalist

2020
Best Figure, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon August Competition, Plein Air Magazine

2020
Best Artist Under 30, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon August Competition, Plein Air Magazine

2019
Best Artist Under 30, 9th Annual Plein Air Salon August/September Competition, Plein Air Magazine

2019
ARC 14th Salon Staff Award

2019
Best Artist Under 30, 9th Annual Plein Air Salon February/March Competition, Plein Air  Magazine

2013
Minnesota State Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Honorable Mention

Selected Exhibitions

2022
“2020 Hindsight,” California Art Club, Big Dog Arts, Tejon Ranch, CA

2022
"Spring Artist Showcase: Nikita Budkov" City of Fontana, April 5 - May 27

2021
“Western Regional Exhibition,” Oil Painters of America, Mark Arts, Wichita, KS

2021
“110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition,” California Art Club, Hilbert Museum of California Art,   Orange

2021
“California Highlights,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA

2021
“On Location in Malibu 2021”, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, Malibu

2021
“Artist in his Studio 2,” Glendale

2021
“30th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils,” OPA, Escondido Museum, Escondido

2021
“Renewal and Rebirth,” California Art Club, Pasadena

2021
“Mars: An Artistic Mission,” California Art Club, Pasadena

2021
“Car Culture,” OCCCA, Santa Ana

2020
“Artist in his Studio,” Glendale

2020
“ARC 14th Salon Exhibition,” Sotheby’s, NYC

2020
“Gold Medal,” California Art Club, Hilbert Museum of California Art, Orange

2019
“ARC 14th Salon Exhibition,” MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain

2019
“Fleeting Moments 2nd Biennale: Works en Plein Air,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA

2019
“The Imaginary,” Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard

2019
“Gold Medal,” California Art Club, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena

2019

“On the Cusp: Morning and Evening Light,” Hillside Fine Art, Claremont

2018
“The Songbook, A Show of Recent Portraits & Landscapes By Nikita Budkov,” Los Angeles Academy of  Academy of Figurative Art, September 29, 2018

2018
“A Collector’s Feast: Indulge a New Artwork Under $4000,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena

2018
“Monumental Miniatures,” California Art Club, the Old Mill Foundation, San Marino

2018
“Welcoming New Artists,” Hillside Fine Art, Claremont

2018
“Sunny California,” Hillside Fine Art, Claremont

2018
“Gold Medal,” California Art Club, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Los Angeles

2018
“Canyons to Coves,” California Art Club, the Old Mill Foundation, San Marino

2017
“Fleeting Moments: Works en Plein Air,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA

2016
“Student Art Exhibition,” Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Artem Gallery, Los Angeles

2015
“Student Art Exhibition,” Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Loft at Liz’s, Los Angeles

2009
“Children’s Fantasies,” Odintsovo, Russia

Professional Membership

Mentor Program Member, California Art Club
Associate Membership, Oil Painters of America

Press and Publications

American Legacy Fine Arts featured in AMericna Art Collector Magazine, May 2023.

American Legacy Fine Arts Featured in American Art Collector Magazine, May 2023 Issue

In its definition of “still life”, the Tate museum in London states, “In the hierarchy of genres (or subject types) for art established in the 17th century by the French …

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in Plein Air Magazine, December 2021 Issue.

Nikita Budkov Awarded Top of Class “Artist Under 30” in Plein Air Magazine, December 2021 Issue

Diane Waterhouse, owner of Waterhouse Gallery, gives high marks to these paintings from the August Plein Air Salon competition.

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in FIne Art Connuisseur On-line magazine may, 5, 2020.

Nikita Budkov Featured in Fine Art Connoisseur On-Line Magazine, May 5, 2020

There is a lot of superb contemporary realism being made these days; this article by Allison Malafronte shines light on a gifted individual. NIKITA BUDKOV (b. 1995), a Russian-American painter …

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Nikita Budkov in Winners Circle Plein Air Salon, Plein Air Magazine December 2019

Nikita Budkov chosen for the Winners’ Circle , Artist Under 30, Plein Air Salon by Plein Air Magazine, December 2019

WINNERS’ CIRCLE Kathryn Mapes Turner, owner of Turner Fine Art, crowns her picks for the top paintings in the August-September competition.

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Nikita Budkov Recognized as 21 Under 31 by Southwest Art Magazine, September 2019

It’s time one again to celebrate the next generation of artists! In the following pages you’ll meet 21 artists under the age of 31 who are worth watching. Some are …

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Nikita Budkov Featured as “Three to Watch” in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine May/June 2019

There is a lot of superb art being made these days; this column by Allison Malafronte shines light on a trio of gifted individuals. NIKITA BUDKOV (b. 1995), a Russian-American …

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, March 2019.

Nikita Budkov in Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art Blog Post, March 2019

Once again, LAAFA shined at the 108th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition held b the California Art Club.  This year brought an array of diverse artworks as well as a handful …

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in Colorado Boulevard Online, March 2019.

Nikita Budkov in Colorado Boulevard.net, March 3, 2019

Here is one more occasion for art lovers to enjoy the wonderful building formerly hosting the Pasadena Museum of Contemporary Art. From March 3 to March 29 the main gallery …

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in Winona Daily News, January 2019.

Nikita Budkov in Winona Daily News, January 2019

Nikita Budkov, a 2014 graduate of Cotter High School, is getting rave reviews as an artist in the highly competitive Los Angeles art scene.

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in California Art Club Newsletter, Fall 2018.

Nikita Budkov in California Art Club Newsletter, Fall 2018

It has long been observed that talent is an all too common commodity, and that talent alone can almost never lead to success. In fact, undisciplined or misdirected talent can …

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art Blog Post.

Nikita Budkov in Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art Blog Post, October 2018

On the evening of September 29, 2018 Our LAAFA Alumnus – Nikita Budkov had his first solo show with us here at LAAFA!  His show was titled, “Nikita: The Song …

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American Legacy Fine Arts presents Nikita Budkov in Plein Air Today Online Magazine, November 2017.

Nikita Budkov in Plein Air Today Online Magazine Publication, November 2017

American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena, California, recently opened a splendid exhibition of plein air works by some of the most collected and celebrated painters in the United States. Who’s …

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