Contemporary Russian artist Nikita Budkov was born on August 16, 1995, in Zvenigorod, a suburb of Moscow, Russia. As a young boy, he found joy in reading classic fairy tales, fantasy novels, and comics, all of which fueled his imagination and inspired him to express his thoughts through pencil drawings. During his teenage years, he became an avid fan of Rock and Metal music, which continues to play an integral role in his creative journey. Budkov shares, “Music is an eternal companion on my career journey.”
Nikita’s formal art education began at the Children’s Art School Program in Odintsovo, where he graduated with honors. He initially pursued an architectural course at the Moscow Architecture Institute with the intention of becoming a professional architect. However, his life took a transformative turn in 2012 when he came to the United States as an exchange student. After graduating from Cotter High School in Minnesota, where he was honored as Homecoming King, Budkov received an honorable mention in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for the state of Minnesota. This recognition inspired him to shift his focus to traditional fine art.
Determined to deepen his skills, Budkov moved to Los Angeles to study traditional painting from a new perspective. He spent three years immersed in full-time studies at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA), where he honed his craft and taught two classes during the summer of his senior year. Budkov graduated with top honors and became a member of the prestigious California Art Club. He also worked as an assistant to renowned California plein air artist Peter Adams.
Throughout his years in California, Budkov received numerous accolades, including awards from Plein Air Magazine, the Art Renewal Center, and Oil Painters of America. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and internationally. In recognition of his exceptional artistic abilities, Budkov was granted Permanent Residence status in the United States.
Seeking a new chapter, Budkov relocated to Idaho to pursue a career as a firefighter while living closer to the mountains and forests that inspire his art.
Nikita Budkov’s painting style is rooted in contemporary realism, with a strong emphasis on visual storytelling. His works often incorporate mythological and ancient symbolic elements, reflecting his fascination with timeless narratives. In his own words: “Above all, I appreciate ambient atmosphere and pursue the mystical and the beautiful qualities of life.”
Selected Awards and Honors
2022 Figurative Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America 2022 Western Regional Exhibition, Southwest Art Gallery, Dallas TX
2021 Best Artist Under 30, 11th Annual Plein Air Salon August Competition, Plein Air Magazine
2021 Honorable Mention, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon, Plein Air Magazine
2021 First Place Overall, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon February Competition, Plein Air Magazine
2021 ARC 15th Salon Finalist
2020 Oil Finalist, Boynes Emerging Artist Award
2020 Best Figure, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon August Competition, Plein Air Magazine
2020 Best Artist Under 30, 10th Annual Plein Air Salon August Competition, Plein Air Magazine
2019 Best Artist Under 30, 9th Annual Plein Air Salon August/September Competition, Plein Air Magazine
2019 ARC 14th Salon Staff Award
2019 Best Artist Under 30, 9th Annual Plein Air Salon February/March Competition, Plein Air Magazine
2013 Minnesota State Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Honorable Mention
2010-2012 Selected to create holiday-inspired artwork for Odintsovo Humanitarian Gymnasium, Odintsovo, Russia
Selected Exhibitions
2022 “Expressions, Gestures and Feelings,” California Art Club, Pasadena
2022 1st Annual Dana Point Plein Air Festival Exhibition, Dana Bay Gallery, Dana Point
2022 “Monumental Miniatures,” California Art Club, the Old Mill Foundation, San Marino
2022 Oil Painters of America 2022 Western Regional Exhibition, Southwest Art Gallery, Dallas TX
2022 “111th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition,” California Art Club, Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
2022 “2020 Hindsight,” California Art Club, Big Dog Arts, Tejon Ranch, CA
2022 "Spring Artist Showcase: Nikita Budkov" City of Fontana, April 5 - May 27
2021 “Western Regional Exhibition,” Oil Painters of America, Mark Arts, Wichita, KS
2021 “110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition,” California Art Club, Hilbert Museum of California Art, Orange
2021 “California Highlights,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA
2021 “On Location in Malibu 2021”, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, Malibu
2021 “Artist in his Studio 2,” Glendale
2021 “30th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils,” OPA, Escondido Museum, Escondido
2021 “Renewal and Rebirth,” California Art Club, Pasadena
2021 “Mars: An Artistic Mission,” California Art Club, Pasadena
2021 “Car Culture,” OCCCA, Santa Ana
2020 “Artist in his Studio,” Glendale
2020 “ARC 14th Salon Exhibition,” Sotheby’s, NYC
2020 “Gold Medal,” California Art Club, Hilbert Museum of California Art, Orange
2019 “ARC 14th Salon Exhibition,” MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain
2019 “Fleeting Moments 2nd Biennale: Works en Plein Air,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA
2019 “The Imaginary,” Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard
2019 “Gold Medal,” California Art Club, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena
2019 “On the Cusp: Morning and Evening Light,” Hillside Fine Art, Claremont
2018 “The Songbook, A Show of Recent Portraits & Landscapes By Nikita Budkov,” Los Angeles Academy of Academy of Figurative Art, September 29, 2018
2018 “A Collector’s Feast: Indulge a New Artwork Under $4000,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena
2018 “Monumental Miniatures,” California Art Club, the Old Mill Foundation, San Marino
2018 “Welcoming New Artists,” Hillside Fine Art, Claremont
2018 “Sunny California,” Hillside Fine Art, Claremont
2018 “Gold Medal,” California Art Club, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Los Angeles
2018 “Canyons to Coves,” California Art Club, the Old Mill Foundation, San Marino
2017 “Fleeting Moments: Works en Plein Air,” American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA
2016 “Student Art Exhibition,” Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Artem Gallery, Los Angeles
2015 “Student Art Exhibition,” Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Loft at Liz’s, Los Angeles
2009 “Children’s Fantasies,” Odintsovo, Russia
Professional Membership
Mentor Program Member, California Art Club
Associate Membership, oil painters of america