The Awards Collective was created to feature the works of artist who have received either a Juror’s Award or Director’s Award in ASG’s Online exhibitions.  Sveta Butko’s image “Alona“ received the Director’s Award in the “portraits” exhibition juried by Donna Garcia.  Sveta’s exhibition “Old Masters” is discussed in this GalleryTalk.

Artist Statement

I called my project “Old Masters”. It is inspired by symbolism and atmosphere that I find in the portraits by great painter from the past. Their color palette, their feeling of light and expression, and all those details like flaked paint and dust – everything inspires me. I try to express the connection between past and present, between nostalgia and today’s feelings, between my subject and me. It is about identity, not only my subject’s by also my own. This is photography that is also a fine art, photography that is also a painting, reality that is also a fantasy.

Sveta Butko
January, 2025

Bio

My name is Sveta Butko and I’m a self-taught professional child and family photographer based in Israel.

In late 2016 I gave up my career as an architect and got carried away with photography. My education for a PhD degree in visual arts (architecture) and working as an architect for a few years gave me invaluable knowledge and experience that accompanying me in my photography career.

Soon my images started to grab the attention of photographers around the world, and photography schools invited me to give lectures and workshops. Since then, my professional photographer career has begun.

Now my works are published both in local and international press, shown on book covers of the bestselling authors, exhibited at local and international fairs, featured in Vogue Italia, Canon Russia and Lens Magazine.

I’ve been invited to judge international photo contests and held more than 60 local and international workshops and lectures. My students win international photo awards.  I organized a charitable photo forum and participated in charity photography projects for raising awareness about special needs and diseases.

I believe that photography has an amazing power of ability to change the world. The expression of tender, deep, innocent feelings can give people relief and hope.

website: sveta-butko.com
instagram:  @sveta_butko_photography

link to online exhibition