Russell Vanecek

He received his first drawing and paintings lessons from his high school art teacher, Ethel Koeppe, an excellent painter, and designer.  

After studying Fine Art, printmaking and Art History earning Advanced degree at the Pennsylvania State University, Russell was appointed an art teacher at Clayton high school near St. Louis, Missouri. Russell also holds a BA in Fine Arts at the Webster University, Webster Groves, MO. 

Always interested in traveling outside of his home state, he decided to travel abroad.  He decided to go to Paris, France.  He decided to stay in France for 10 months.  During his time in Paris, he enrolled in several painting and drawing classes at the Académie des Beauz-Arts. He was interested in learning the traditional methods of painting and print making.  It became very important to him to follow, the traditional style of oil painting from the past. He also went to Italy and sent more time discovering so many of the painters in Rome, Florence, and Venice. He came home with a new perspective and commitment to painting and drawing. Had a renewed commitment to spend his life teaching and producing fine art.   

Teaching art at various levels in the public-school systems became a full-time job. But he never abandons his commitment to creating his own paintings and drawings.   He was committed to painting, but also included other mediums. He spent several summers learning how to sculpt the human form with Jay Gregory.   She is one of the premier sculptures in the USA.

Gradually, he became well known, first exhibiting throughout the states of Missouri and Illinois in the central regions of the United States.  He started to be in gallery exhibitions in various venues throughout the Midwest USA.  He was asked to paint murals as commissions for two hospitals.

In 2021 he was invited to participate in the international Florence Biennale, at the stunning Fortezza da Basso.  

In 2021 he was delighted to accept invitations to participate in exhibitions at the Galleria della Biblioteca Angelica and Galleria La Pigna, both prestigious galleries in the heart of Rome.  He excepted representation at the Galleria360 Arte Contemporanea in Florence, Italy.

To date he has shown his work in 12 solo and 20 group exhibitions, and his paintings are to be found in USA, Great Britain, Italy, France, and Canada

Gradually, he became well known, first exhibiting, and represented by GALERIA AZUR, Madrid, Spain, Exhibit at Galeria Azur - April.  Exhibit at Virtual Artists/London, England April, “State of the Art”, Rome, Italy

"Paraiso", M.A.D.S Art Gallery, Milano, Italy - September and December.  He is Represented by Galleria360 Arte Contemporanea. Florence, Italy -Two Exhibitions September and December 2022.  And was recently, in a group exhibition at Gallery-Roma, Italy, 2022.

And he recently was asked to create a Commission from Arch Design Artwork for the Barnes-Jewish-Children West County Hospital, St. Louis, MO.  Commission from PS Art Consulting, Denver, CO for the new St. Louis University Hospital, Missouri. Soulard Art Gallery, exhibition “Architectural Statements” in St. Louis, MO.  Awarded the best of show Prize.