Egor Shokoladov’s solo exhibition featured at Peninsula College

PORT ANGELES — Artist Egor Shokoladov’s solo exhibition, entitled “Semicolon),” will be on display in Peninsula College’s PUB Gallery of Art beginning Tuesday.

The free exhibit will be on view at the college campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd. through Jan. 20. He also will host a Dec. 9 Studium Generale presentation online, beginning at 12:35 p.m. via Zoom. More details about how to access the presentation will be released closer to the event.

Originally from the small town of Grodno, Belarus, Shokoladov said he has been expressing his thoughts and impressions about the world though art as long as he can remember, organizers said.

“I am particularly inspired by humor, so it is a common theme uniting most of my artwork,” Shokoladov said.

“Personages and situations illustrated on my paper and canvas or engraved on zinc plates are easily relatable to and bring positive vibes into the world.”

His artistic talent was recognized early. At 11 years old he was accepted into Grodno School of Fine Arts. Six years later, after graduation, he was invited to paint in the Lyceum in Grodno. There he had his first solo professional exhibition.

“I pay close attention to details attracting the viewer to explore all parts of the story behind each of my artistic pieces with me,” he said.

“My style has a noticeable European shade as I am a recent first-generation immigrant from Belarus.”

Upon graduation from Lyceum, Shokoladov decided to continue his formal education in art as a student of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, where he obtained a master of arts degree, specializing in visual art and computer graphics.

Shokoladov’s work can be found in galleries, museums and private collections in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, China, Poland, United States, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Russia, Poland, Belarus and the Ukraine.

Shokoladov started his artistic career in the U.S. in 2020 when he moved to Spokane and created a temporary mural, “Confessions of the Jester,” in the downtown area as part of the Spokane Arts project.

His most recent successes include the “People’s Choice Award” for the etching prints “Lepidopterist,” and “Diary of a Little Girl,” submitted to the “Small Expressions-19” exhibit, and “Lost Words: A Juried Exhibit of Art and Poetry” exhibitions respectively at the Northwind Arts Center in Port Townsend.

Shokoladov said he was stunned by the variety of opportunities available for artists in the U.S., and is excited for continue his professional growth and establishment as an artist in America.