“Wood has always captivated me. Since my early childhood, I have loved exploring wild trees, feeling the roughness of the bark and suppleness of their branches, and sometimes even talked to them while appreciating their silent response. I watched them from different angles, realizing that these good-natured, mighty and mysterious creatures are fully conscious of my presence. Then, when I later started studying the sculpture, I knew that wood would be my primary work material.
…I see the wood as a truly fascinating craft of nature, unique and amazing as it is. However, with the passionate participation of an artist, the real masterpiece comes into life. And thus, you may see it for yourself…”
Alex Rita
Biography
Alex Rita was born in Novosibirsk, Russia in 1962. A few years later his family moved to Odessa, Ukraine. His father was an art history professor and also a well-known art collector. Since an early age, Alex has been surrounded by art, observing the work of diverse artists and sculptors in the variety of styles including classical art, impressionism, and modernism. This environment has created a foundation for his development as an inspired artist utilizing different modeling techniques and materials.
During 1979-1980 he has studied Sculpture and Design at the Grekov Odessa Art School actively participating in the exhibitions of the School’s students.
In 1981, his studies were interrupted by military service. In 1982, after completing military training, he was drafted to the Afghan war, where he was seriously wounded and discharged from the army.
Alex was wounded in the left eye with shrapnel and received a severe concussion. After the immediate operation, he spent six months in the hospital. As a result, he has partially lost his sight and suffered from severe headaches. In that condition, his return to the art world to study and practice seemed impossible.
In November 1983, while back home, Alex found himself facing a dilemma: either to abandon his dream of becoming a sculptor and, hence, to follow a different career path or to fight for his ultimate goal. Facing this difficult choice, he has refused to accept the adverse result of his trauma but to continue pursuing his dream.
While working in odd jobs, Alex practiced different treatments to improve his sight and overall health. The dream of resuming his artwork has remained his most vital motivation. After four years of undergoing conventional medical treatment, alternative medicine, and practicing yoga, he has finally tried his first post-traumatic wood sculpting.
Since 1987, Alex has worked as an interior designer and decorator. He mastered versatile décor to beautify restaurants and specialty stores. His wooden wall sculptures decorating Odessa’s cafes and restaurants were especially notable.
In 1989, while visiting Israel, Alex has been asked by his friend to craft a few wooden sculptures to decorate his restaurant in Jerusalem. Having been impressed by his performance, several other business owners and subsequently two art galleries desired to acquire his artwork. As a result, Alex’s visit to Israel has lasted for two more years. During that time, he has studied the Jewish traditional art while fulfilling orders of the local art galleries.
In 1992, Alex and his family decided to immigrate to Canada. Alex arrived in Toronto with little knowledge of English, however with an abundance of enthusiasm to utilize his ingenuity. By that time, he was truly fascinated by the traditional Jewish art designing and modeling fine objects made of silver and gold. After twenty years of working with wood, Alex now dared to apply his talent to precious metals. He had thoroughly learned the jewelry modeling techniques and was employed as a jewelry designer for the Toronto modeling company “Image Design” until 2014. During those years he has created hundreds of jewelry models utilized by jewelry companies across the US and Canada.
Today, Alex has returned to his favorite material – wood. In addition to the wood sculpturing, he has developed special skills designing furniture and décor. His work reflects the cultural traditions of Ukraine and Jewish mythology influenced by the European school of Neoclassicism and Expressionism. Each object of Alex Rita’s art conveys the mastership of the author and the soul of the wood.
Alex's artwork combines cultural themes with specific architectural elements emotionally appealing to a beholder.
The images instilled in Alex’s art narrate the life stories preserved in wood carrying the imprint of the human civilization.
"We can see in the works of Alex Rita several features of his always integrated development, in which continuity is not lost, where no previous achievements are discarded, instead, remain and continue to bear fruit in parallel with the development of new forms of expression."
