Artists / Duaiv

Duaiv

Duaiv

1952–

Accomplished in both classical music and fine art, Duaiv embeds the essence of creative inspiration in his world-renowned paintings, commissioned murals, and live performances.

With the world as his canvas, Duaiv’s work is a contemporary representation of Impressionism at its height.

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Duaiv’s Personal History

Duaiv was born in 1952 in the maritime region of France near the city of Bordeaux. Duaiv was raised in an artistic environment—his mother was a classical pianist and his father was a sculptor.

When Duaiv was just 3 years old he picked up his first paintbrush, but to the dismay of his parents, the walls of his home became his first canvas. By the time he was 9, Duaiv completed his first oil painting.

Later in his childhood, Duaiv’s family moved to a nearby island off the coast of France. Although he demonstrated talent for painting at a young age, his father didn’t want him to become an artist. Instead of art supplies, he bought him a cello. Having met renowned cellist Pablo Casals when he was only 8 years old, the instrument was a natural choice for Duaiv. With his new instrument, Duaiv continued to practice, but could never let go of his love of art.

For this reason, Duaiv chose to become classically educated in both art and music. He attended the Conservatoire Nationale de Musique in Paris and trained in the cello under Bernard Michelin. He also attended the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris to further his studies in painting. Duaiv’s art and music began taking him everywhere, opening doors to incredible opportunities.

"Outerme" (2015), Duaiv, Park West Gallery, summer art

“Outerme” (2015), Duaiv

When he was 23, Duaiv met famed Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. During this encounter, Dalí inspired Duaiv to pursue art for a living, encouraging him to blend his passion for the arts and music.

In 2011, Duaiv obtained American citizenship and moved to Florida, where he currently maintains a studio and home. He is an impassioned husband to his wife, Magella, and father to daughters Kalinka and Vlassevskaïa.

Duaiv’s primary goal as an artist is to share his art as an experience and inspire his audience. Through what he calls “Happenings,” Duaiv performs spontaneous concerts at galleries and outdoor spaces before his book signings and gallery openings. Duaiv also travels aboard cruise ships frequently, inspiring audience participation through his live performances.

Today, Duaiv continues to both paint and play his cello without relent. The two disciplines are so entwined for the artist that he cannot paint without listening to music.

He claims that there is no such thing as Sunday and he never takes vacation. For Duaiv, his art is his life.

 Duaiv’s Style and Influences

 Many collectors love Duaiv’s uplifting paintings. Colorful, cheerful, and bright, Duaiv’s paintings buzz with movement across the canvas.

Duaiv is inspired by Impressionist artists including Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent van Gogh, He also draws inspiration from Dutch artists Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals. Duaiv employs Van Gogh’s moving, dynamic brush strokes, Vermeer’s soft texture, and Monet’s subtle palette of color into a beautiful contemporary variation of his own.

Park West gallery Duaiv

“3 Barques a Van Gogh” (2014), Duaiv

Duaiv’s art is a reflection of the world around him, capturing the calm of countryside landscapes, the energy of modern cities, and the personality of portraiture.

For two hours every morning, Duaiv practices his cello. Each night, he paints in his studio for four to six hours, always listening to music.

The artist uses cans of paint rather than tubes, working with various sizes of palette knives and tiny brushes, often smoothing the paint with his fingers. Duaiv employs pastel colors and swirling brushstrokes in his artwork as an homage to Impressionism.

Duaiv only uses six to eight colors while painting, yet a full spectrum of hues shines within each artwork. Although painting is Duaiv’s most common practice, he is fluent in a variety of different media.

Accomplishments

  • At the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival in 1997, Duaiv designed and painted the façade of two buses, using the landscape of Cannes and popular film stars as inspiration. These paintings were later exhibited at a museum in Mougins, France.
  • In 1998, Duaiv received the Lys D’Or from the Cannes International Carlton in recognition of the artist’s international acclaim.
  • In 1998, Duaiv was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Star of Europe, European Foundation Prize by Prince Henrik of Denmark, acknowledging his willingness to mentor young contemporary artists in his home country of France.
  • In 2006, Duaiv became a part of the Benezit Directory of top-rated painters. Created in 1911, the directory has become the art collector’s gold standard for information on some of the world’s greatest artists.
  • In 2014, he transformed a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and two Ferraris (a 458 Spider and an FF) into mobile canvases, using the exteriors to exhibit his signature, abstract designs.
  • The 2015 Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Florida commissioned Duaiv to create the official artwork for the festival.
  • Duaiv has exhibited all over the world on land and sea, including France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, the United States, Tunisia, and Australia.
  • Duaiv has designed and painted several high-value sports cars, including Lamborghini, Corvette and Porsche for prominent events like the Miami Art Basel, Miami International Auto Show, and more.

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