Oleg Putnin’s (Latvian, b. 1969) art has a way of pulling you into a moment—like the sun breaking through the clouds or the hush of a village just before dusk. His journey as a painter began in childhood and took shape with his move to Moscow in 1989, where he trained at the prestigious Surikov Institute. His work is celebrated for capturing the fleeting beauty of light as it dances across landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. Every brushstroke feels alive, infused with the kind of emotion that only comes from painting directly under the sky, en plein air.
I met Oleg in 2000 during a visit to Moscow—a city teeming with history and energy. I was there with a dear friend, a sculptor, who introduced me to this young, passionate painter whose work immediately stopped me in my tracks. Oleg’s unique perspective—almost sculptural in its depth—made his paintings feel like you could step into them. His approach wasn’t just about what he saw, but about how it felt, how the light moved through the air, how color told a story.
That day, I couldn’t walk away empty-handed. I bought every small painting he had in that vivid, dimensional style—from Spring in Blossom to Spring in the Village. Each one felt like a captured breath of a season, a memory preserved in pigment.
Now, 25 years later, those paintings still fill my heart with joy every time I see them. They bring with them a warmth, a freshness, and the magic of that spring in Moscow when I first encountered Oleg’s world. But life changes, and it’s time for these pieces to find a new home—someone who will love them as much as I have, and feel that same spark of wonder every time they catch the light.
(Photographed in April 2025)