Igor Gorban
Igor Gorban
Born in 1957 in Odessa, Ukraine, Igor graduated from Odessa Pedagogical University, majoring in Fine Art and Graphics. Being a member of Ukrainian Union of Artists, he specializes in oil painting and printmaking. Since 1978, Igor Gorban has exhibited in many solo as well as group exhibitions in Ukraine, Russia and the United States. His works are located in many collections all over the world, including Ministry of Culture of the Ukraine (Ukraine); The Museum of Literature (Odessa, Ukraine); Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Museum, Norton Dodge Collection (NJ, USA). Currently he lives and works in New York City.
Artist Statement
From early childhood I was inspired by the European, primarily German and Dutch, Masters of the XVI-XVII centuries. I still follow their technical methods of oil on wood painting. Most of my paintings are small sized and miniature works which produce a more intimate experience for the viewer. This way I feel a closer connection to the individual. 
I am not intending to tell a particular story in any of my paintings, I only strive to create a complete work of art. I am a follower of traditional paintings which leads to my use of recognizable objects; people, fish, landscapes, etc. In the same time, I am not trying to endow each object with individual characteristics; this would lead to literature or photography, the other types of art.
I like the unconscious contents in my works. By the way, fish is the symbol of unconscious but living matter. It is the part of real life, but it does not have a consciousness. Its cold blooded but never possessed by any burning passions. The people in my works come out pretty much monotonous but that is not my purpose. It often happens to the artists with a recognizable art style. In other words, I cast similar performers throughout my works.
The result is that the focus of my artwork is the whole picture, not just its characters. This is the result I want for now. Twenty years ago I was different and it’s very possible I will change again in the future.
Education
1974-1978 MA in Fine Art, Odessa University, Department of Fine Art, Odessa, Ukraine.
1968-1972 Diploma with Honors, Odessa Art School, Odessa, Ukraine.
Exhibitions
2010 Frank Allen Gallery, WI, USA.
2009 Frank & Dunia Gallery, Seattle WA, USA.
2009 Boulevard Fine Art, Chicago, IL, USA.
2009 Opus Gallery, Cleveland OH, USA.
2008 GALLERY JAC, New York, NY, USA.
2008 LoPressionism Gallery, Orlando, FL, USA.
2008 The Dorland-Haight Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2008 Frank & Dunia Gallery, Seattle WA, USA.
2006 Four Artists Show, The Art of Decoration, Engelewood, NJ.
2006 Small Works Art Exhibition. 80 Wasington Square Gallery, New York, USA.
2005 New Talent. Brad Cooper Gallery, Florida, USA.
2005 Small Works Art Exhibition. 80 Wasington Square Gallery, New York, USA. Juror Award.
2004 Miniature Art Exhibition. Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. Florida, USA.
2002 National Small Works Painting Exhibition. Avenue Art Gallery, New York, USA.
2002 Silvermine Guild Artists Exhibition. Connecticut, USA.
2002 4 Annual Small Works Exhibition. Attleboro Museum, Massachusetts.
1996 Opus Gallery. Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
1996 Kristal Gallery. Sugar Bush, Vermont, USA.
1988 Republican Exhibition of Printmaking Art. Kiev, Ukraine.
1987 Youth of Country, Manege. Moscow, Russia.
1987 Exhibition of Young Artists. Kiev, Ukraine.
1986 National Exhibition of Book Illustrations. Moscow, Russia.
1985 Four Artists Exhibition. Odessa, Ukraine.
1978-1988 Participated in a great number (over 50) of exhibitions in Odessa and Kiev.