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The decision to immigrate was
extremely difficult for the family. In 1990 the
artist and his family immigrates to the United States of America
and begins a new life. Without knowing
anybody, with only three suitcases, Pogrebinsky and his
family had to start from scratch. A new world with
its own customs and culture was yet another challenge in
Pogrebinsky’s life. Fortunately his understanding of
Western languages proved helpful to the young artist and his
family. As the
Cleveland Plain Dealer
wrote, "In deciding to leave, the Pogrebinsky's said goodbye to
family and friends, and killed a familiar way of life."
Thus begins a new period for the
artist. With his paints and paintbrushes he brought
with him from the USSR he begins to create his first works in
America. His first works were mostly landscapes and
still-life’s where displayed at a small gallery in Detroit
called Chaika. These works sold well and
Pogrebinsky began working on other forms of painting.
One of his first major works in America was the portrait of his
family in 1993.
As Pogrebinsky liked and was used
to painting on big canvases works of deep philosophical and
historical meaning, he was tempted to that genre once again.
Finally in 1993 Pogrebinsky completed his first major large
canvas painting
What Is the Truth? which
was exhibited at the Newman Religious Art Show in Cleveland.
The following years Pogrebinsky
exhibits in many different galleries throughout Ohio,
California, and the Washington D.C. area. In 1995
Pogrebinsky paints the well-known portrait of the Cleveland
Catholic Bishop Anthony Pilla. The portrait was
highly praised by the Bishop and the Cleveland community.
Soon after the portrait the
Cleveland Diocese ordered the
historic collage of the Diocese’s 150th
Anniversary. This was a major work by the
artist, which involved long periods of studying Cleveland’s
Catholic cathedrals, and traveling widely across Northeast Ohio
to collect materials. This amazing work can be found on display
at the St. John Cathedral in downtown Cleveland.
Following this commission came
many others, among them the portraits of the presidents of John
Carroll University,
Father Lavelle and
Father Schell. Also
Father Cozzens, author and the
President of St. Mary’s Seminary. Founder and Chairman of
Reality One Real Estate
Vincent Aveni and others.
Among his personal works of this
period it is important to note the triptych
Moon, Earth, Sun.
For which the family of the artist was used as models.
This triptych was displayed at the artist’s one-man show at the
Alla Rogers Gallery in 1998 in Washington D.C.
In 1999
Muse, another personal composition, toured the world with
other works of the Ohio Art Council.
In 2001 Pogrebinsky participates
in the annual Salon D’Automne in Paris, France.
There he displays his work
Le Louvre. This
work had a tremendous success among the Parisian public.
Salon D’Automne is one of the most prestigious shows in Western
Europe and 2003 it will celebrate its 100th
anniversary. |
