Ilya Ibryaev - Rusia

Ilya Ibryaev (Russia, 1955) is a watercolor artist whose life and career have been entirely devoted to art. He studied painting at an Art School and later graduated from the prestigious Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Arts and Industry, founded by Count Stroganov, where he specialized in decorative ceramics—a discipline that combines painting and the plastic arts.

Since 1983, he has been a member of the Association of Russian Painters and is also affiliated with the International Federation of Watercolorists. He currently lives and works in Moscow, where he develops his work primarily in watercolor.

Ibryaev found in watercolor a medium more complex and fascinating than oil painting, as it allows him to express light and the transparency of pigment on wet paper—an effect he considers impossible to achieve with other techniques.

His working method is alla prima, painting directly onto wet paper in a single session, especially in urban landscapes and seascapes, although he occasionally creates studio works based on sketches and memories.

His personal motto is: “I want to paint the entire world!” reflecting his passion for capturing light, atmosphere, and emotion in each work.

His work has received international recognition: he has participated in watercolor festivals and biennials worldwide and has received several awards, including the Gold Medal at the International Biennial of New Watercolor Techniques in Caudete (Spain).

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