Sergei Belikov, painter

 

 

 

 

For me, portraiture is not simply the recording of likeness.
A portrait should preserve presence, character, and continuity — becoming part of a family’s history and, over time, part of its memory.

This is why I approach each portrait as a lasting work of painting, created through a slow, multilayered process rooted in the classical tradition.

I have long been drawn to the continuity of generations, to the meaning of legacy, and to the human need to remain connected to one’s roots. In this sense, a portrait becomes more than an image of an individual: it carries a connection between past, present, and future.

Among the works that explore this idea, Old Portrait holds a special place for me. It is not only about likeness, but about the moment when a person encounters his own history — those who came before him, and whose presence remains part of the family.

Old Portrait
Oil on linen, 110 х 146 cm
Private collection / 2021

CLASSICAL PORTRAITURE

I work within a classical tradition, with a fully developed painted surface, multilayer technique, and close attention to detail.
Each commission, however, is developed individually — from restrained formal portraiture to more decorative or stylised settings.
What remains unchanged is the standard of execution.

Portrait of a Woman
Oil on linen, 98 × 132 cm
Private collection, 2023

Portrait of a Man
Oil on linen, 98 × 132 cm
Private collection, 2023

EASTERN SERIES

The Eastern series uses greater freedom in ornament, textiles, and decorative atmosphere, while the figures themselves remain rooted in the same classical principles of portrait painting.

Portrait of a Woman
Oil on linen, 95 х 140 cm
Private collection, 2022

Portrait of a Man
Oil on linen, 95 х 140 cm
Private collection, 2022

FORMAL PORTRAITURE

Formal portraiture calls for greater restraint in colour, composition, and expression, while preserving the same attention to presence, likeness, and painted surface.

HM Queen Silvia of Sweden
Oil on linen, 90 х 140 cm
Private collection, 2022

HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Oil on linen, 90 х 140 cm
Private collection, 2022

CLASSICAL PORTRAITURE — VARIATIONS

Both works remain rooted in the classical tradition of portrait painting. The difference lies mainly in the treatment of the setting: from a restrained interior to a more freely interpreted historical background.

Portrait of Charlotte W.
Oil on linen, 96 × 140 cm
Private collection, 2023

Portrait of Emma W.
Oil on linen, 105 × 160 cm
Private collection, 2023

INTIMATE PORTRAITURE

Child portraiture calls for particular restraint and sensitivity, while more intimate adult portraits allow a quieter, more inward treatment. In both, likeness and presence remain central.

Every portrait is created for a particular person, family, and setting. My role is to understand how the sitter is to be represented and to create a work that belongs naturally within its intended surroundings — whether a formal residence, a private interior, or a family collection.

Clients have often remarked that the finished portrait preserves not only a strong likeness, but also the sitter’s character, presence, and individuality.

My portrait work includes former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, businessman Björn Wahlroos, public figures, and private commissions in Finland and abroad. Works are held in private collections across Europe and beyond, and the double portrait of Tita and Gustaf Serlachius is in the collection of Serlachius Museum Gösta in Finland.

Each private commission is considered individually.

Interested in commissioning a portrait?
Learn more about the process in Private Commissions.