Oil painting Away mountains Tolochko Victor Ivanovich

№Vern 786

Viktor Ivanovich Tolochko (1922–2006) is a world-renowned Ukrainian painter whose works have been presented at leading international auctions and are highly prized by collectors for their masterful landscapes, still lifes, and genre-painting. Known as one of Crimea’s most distinctive painters, Tolochko combined realism with lyrical mood and made a lasting impact on Ukrainian and Soviet art.

Tolochko’s art is distinguished by its vibrant color, atmospheric light, and emotional resonance. He often painted the sea, coastal cliffs, lush gardens, and still lives with floral themes, all rendered with expressive detail and sense of place. His genre works exhibit both narrative power and a poetic sensibility, making them appealing to both institutional collections and private collectors.

Born on October 22, 1922 in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, Tolochko grew up in a shoemaker’s family. Early in life he showed talent for art; at age 15 a watercolor portrait was sent to an All-Union exhibition in Moscow, earning him a diploma. Drafted in 1940, he served in the Red Army during World War II, fought on the Central Front, and survived serious injuries.

After the war, from 1946 to 1950 he studied at the Kharkov Art College, then in 1957 graduated from the Kharkov Art Institute, studying under S. Besedin, A. Kokel, and A. Lyubimsky. He became a member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine in 1960. Appointed director of the Museum of Ukrainian Art in Yalta after graduation, in 1963 he built his own workshop there and returned more fully to his artistic work. In 1973 he became chairman of the Donetsk branch of the Union of Artists of Ukraine, but later returned permanently to Crimea, where he lived and worked for about 30 years in Yalta. He was awarded the title People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR in 1985, and also Honored Artist of Ukraine.

His works are held in numerous museums across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, Donetsk, Simferopol, and private collections abroad. Regularly presented at international auction houses, Tolochko’s paintings remain in demand for their artistic quality, cultural significance, and evocative beauty. He died on April 13, 2006 in Yalta.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "Away mountains"
* ARTISTS: Tolochko Victor Ivanovich
* SIZE: 70x75 cm/'27.55x29.52 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, canvas
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection

* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product
* This item was auctioned in Kiev auction