Andrey Poletaev — The Artist
Andrey Poletaev is an internationally published fine artist and one of the leading voices in establishing ballpoint pen art as a serious artistic discipline. Recognized by The Ballpointer as one of the most accomplished ballpoint pen artists in the world, he helped elevate the medium from novelty to a new and independent direction in modern and contemporary art.
He builds his ballpoint pen works entirely by hand — only pen and paper, no digital tools, no corrections — and also works in graphite and mixed techniques. He renders the world's great cities with remarkable precision, and his mastery lies as much in what he leaves untouched: the white of the paper becomes light, atmosphere, and silence. That balance between mark and void lifts his work beyond draftsmanship into fine art.
Born in Ukraine and based in Franklin, Tennessee, he has exhibited in Chicago, Zurich, Baden-Baden, and Nashville, as well as in private exhibitions for collectors.
The Artist in His Own Words
"The city itself is the true hero in my drawings. It offers its own unique rhythm of life — I only attempt to capture and preserve it.
I am not trying to embed some deep meaning in this work, but I welcome the viewer to find their own. In each drawing I refine techniques and embed new ones. I try to achieve the maximum effect of optical illusion — to remind everyone that sometimes we just need to pause and look around."
— Andrey Poletaev
Press & Recognition
Publications & Books
Ballpoint Art: Complexity from Simplicity — Gingko Press, Berlin
Above Art Magazine — Issue No. 1, October 2018 — Back Cover Feature
Nashville Arts Magazine — July 2017 — Feature by John Pitcher
Entertainment Vine — December 2016 — Feature by Meagan Meehan
Fine Print Art — August 2016 — Feature
Italia Art Magazine
Ukrainian People Magazine
Design Collector
The Ballpointer — Five features, 2015–2018 — World's leading ballpoint pen art publication
In the Press
Television & Media
WGN 9 Chicago — Television Feature — February 2018
UA Television Chicago — Solo exhibition profile, Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago
The Magnificent Mile (@themagmile) — Official feature & Mashable Ballpoint Pen Contest Winner — April 2016
Exhibitions & Awards
Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago — Solo Exhibition
Bennett Galleries Nashville — Exhibition
ARTLightenment Art & Film Festival, 2016 — Best Drawing Award · Artist Audience Choice Festival Winner · Artist Audience Choice Winner (Thursday) · Artist Audience Choice Winner (Friday)
Chicago · Zurich · Baden-Baden · Nashville · Brentwood · Franklin
Solo exhibition profile produced by UA Television Chicago, Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago
