Roman Karas

Roman Karas is a Brooklyn-based painter who creates large-scale woodcuts and painted figurative images. Originally from Ukraine (b. 1975), Roman began creating art at the age of three. His work first gained significant recognition when he was ten, leading to his inclusion in the "SOVIART" group exhibition in Switzerland—one of the first major showcases introducing artists from the former Soviet Union to Western audiences. By age eleven, Roman was creating miniature paintings on found cardboard and household objects, which were acquired by private collectors across Europe.

Roman's earliest art inspiration came from visiting Vatican City, where he was mesmerized by Renaissance frescoes and sculptures. After relocating to the American Midwest in the early 1990s, Roman continued his art practice and held numerous solo exhibitions in galleries across Wisconsin and Illinois. Upon graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, he settled in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 90s, which remains his permanent home and base of operations.

Roman's primary media choices are painting and printmaking. He is deeply inspired by the novels of Italo Calvino, the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud, and the deconstruction art movement. A common focus in Roman's work involves natural themes fused with urban methodology, emphasizing self-discovery, experimentation, and letting the creative process guide the way. His work explores the noise mechanism of urban environments aligned with everyday simple objects surrounding us.

Roman has worked with prominent galleries and art establishments, including the Museum of Chinese in America (LA), Kinokuniya Books (NYC), Harman Projects (NYC), CUE Art Foundation (NYC), 9/11 Tribute Museum (NYC), Grumpy Bert Gallery (NYC), Broome Street Gallery (NYC), The New Yorker magazine's gallery, Carnegie Hall (NY), DeGraaf Gallery (Chicago), and Lincoln Center (NYC).

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is inspired by a multitude of elements, including nature, music, life experiences, and the objects that surround me. Much like the weather, my ideas fluctuate; they begin in my mind, where they evolve over many months. While some are ultimately translated into an art form, others simply vanish.

To me, art is an unspoken language—a tool to communicate with the viewer and foster a silent dialogue of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Just as cuneiform was used in ancient Mesopotamia, my painted and printed forms serve as a means of connection. My biggest artistic inspirations are the Italian-born artist Antonio Frasconi, Giotto, and obscure folk art from the 1960s.

Ultimately, I hope my art can serve as a healing tool and bring peace to people's homes. The central message I strive to instill in my work is "Semper ad maliora," a Latin phrase meaning "For better things to come."