Hello, I'm Lavi Li.
Lavi Li is a figurative artist and researcher working in the classical multi-layered oil painting technique of the Old Masters. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Lavi received a foundational education, completed professional art training at the Academy of Art and Design in St. Petersburg, and underwent private instruction under master painters. Creative Concept and Approach At the heart of Lavi Li’s practice is the concept of deceleration and articulated physical craftsmanship as a counterweight to modern, fast-paced digital culture. Working on a single canvas takes anywhere from two to eight months, grounded in deep immersion in the medium. Lavi regularly organizes two- to three-week field research expeditions to remote historical settlements and landscapes across the Arabian Peninsula and Africa—including regions of Oman, the UAE, the Sahara Desert, the Valley of the Kings, and Nubia—to study archaic heritage and traditional daily life. Her creative method builds on a synthesis of personal observation and interdisciplinary collaboration: during expeditions, Lavi works alongside ethnographers, photographers, and videographers, integrating the findings of these joint field studies into gallery exhibition projects. Selected Works and Series * Testimonies of Life Series — A 12-piece project centered on searching for and transforming lived expeditionary experience, where each canvas reflects a unique lesson, personal impression, or observation gathered during field research trips. * "The Straight Path" (from the Testimonies of Conviction series) — An oil canvas inspired by field observations in the village of Bilad Sayt (Oman), depicting an elder walking along a stone aflaj aqueduct through plantations at dawn. * "Metamorphosis of Meanings" (Metamorphosis of Meanings) — A still life recording physical transformation and the gradual decaying process of pomegranates, executed using a complex multi-layered technique. Exhibitions, Publications, and Projects Lavi Li’s work has been exhibited on the international art scene, and her creative journey and research projects have been featured in authoritative global publications, including Best In (UAE), Modern Arabesque (UAE), Art Market (New York / UAE), and 365 Art Plus (Tokyo, Japan). Key projects and exhibitions include: * Solo exhibition at Warehouse Gallery Dubai (Dubai). * Solo exhibition at Diba Art Gallery (Abu Dhabi), marking the culmination of two years of field research in Oman and the UAE. * Participation in The Holly Art international exhibition project as part of a global tour (Athens, New York, Paris, Milan). * Exhibition projects at COYA Abu Dhabi (under the patronage of the Four Seasons Art Foundation and Dubai Cares), as well as group shows in London and Amsterdam. * Nominations for international art awards, including the Visual Art Open and the Luminara Artistic Awards. * Educational work and lectures for District1795 (MENA region) and university audiences on academic techniques and the evolution of art. Currently, Lavi Li is working on a transcultural project for Spain, creating a series of 12 large-format canvases dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of Oman and the UAE (the Ali Bey Art Bridge project).