Artist Statement
Through my painting and photography, I focus on urban landscape storytelling—its history, mood, lighting, and textures. My art is about transforming everyday places and objects into visual stories. Shaped by studies in a Bauhaus-oriented curriculum, I’m inspired by artists such as Christo, Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Rauschenberg, and Piranesi. Photography is part of who I am — I always carry a camera with me.
Biography
Born in 1976 and based in Los Angeles, Edward's artistic journey began in Eastern Europe.
Raised in a creative family in Minsk during the final years of the Soviet Union, he witnessed its collapse and the devastating effects of the Chernobyl disaster. While attending art college, he found inspiration in the Cubist and Constructivist movements, sparking his passion for experimental painting and photography. Surrounded by Soviet brutalist and abandoned industrial architecture, his exploration of urban landscapes, combined with his studies at a traditional European fine art institution, laid the foundation for his distinctive artistic voice.
Edward earned a BA in Fine Arts from Glebov College of Arts in Minsk, where he studied under a Bauhaus - oriented curriculum. His academic journey continued with a Diploma in Post Production for Film from Toronto Film School, followed by a course in Roman Architecture at Yale University.
After graduating from college, he made the life-changing decision to immigrate to the United States to start a new life in New York City in 1995. He quickly found his footing in Manhattan’s fast-paced advertising industry as a graphic designer before transitioning to Hollywood, where he spent over two decades as a concept artist and matte painter, working on award-winning movies at top film and animation studios in Los Angeles.
Edward's film credits include the Academy Award-winning Frozen and Big Hero 6, which he worked on during his time at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He also received an Emmy Award for his work on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. Beyond film, he contributed to award-winning Super Bowl and Apple commercials, as well as music videos for artists like Katy Perry and Pink while at Digital Domain.
Today, he has returned to painting and photography, blending his creative perspective with diverse life experiences. Inspired by Los Angeles and its Hollywood legacy, he explores the city's urban landscape, using painting, photography and mixed-media techniques to bring its story to life through his unique artistic vision.
Resume
Born: 1976, Lives and works in Los Angeles, California
Education
2010
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Roman Architecture Course, by Professor Diana E. E. Kleiner
2005 – 2006
Toronto Film School, Toronto, Canada
Diploma in Computer Animation in Post Production
Scholarship, 2005
1991 – 1995
Glebov College of Art, Minsk, Soviet Union
BA in Fine Arts
Major: Design and Painting; Second Major: Photography
Exhibitions
2025
Brewery Artwalk, Spring 2025
Brewery Arts, Los Angeles, CA
The Art of Elysium / bG Live Nights Auction
bG Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA
L.A. Open 2025
TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2024
Moments
Gallery 612, Santa Monica, CA
Gifted
Gallery AF, Los Angeles, CA
Hathaway VS. Grad: Echoes of Los Angeles in Street Signs
Los Angeles Harbor Arts Center, Los Angeles, CA
Edward Grad: Echoes of Los Angeles in Street Signs
Los Angeles Harbor Arts Center, Los Angeles, CA
2011
Painting the Roman Empire / Peindre l'Empire Romain
Le Hachoir, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2007
Edward Grad: Night on Don Valley
Don Valley Brick Works, Toronto, ON, Canada
1995
Concrete Utopia of Soviet Brutalism
Petrovsko-Razumovskaya Gallery, Moscow, Russia
1994 Upper City
Nemiga Gallery, Minsk, USSR
1993
Remnants of the Soviet Industrial Era
Glebov Art Show, Minsk, USSR
Film Industry & Advertising (Selected Experience)
1991-2024
Software: Photoshop, Lightroom, Maya, Illustrator, After Effects, Corel Painter
Technicolor / The Mill (2008 – 2023)
Offices: Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, London
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist / Art Director / Photographer
Worked on award-winning Super Bowl commercials for Apple, Coca-Cola, Meta, and car brands.
Paramount+ / CBS Studios VFX (2019 – 2023)
Los Angeles, CA
Matte Painting Supervisor / Lead Concept Artist / Photographer
Worked on TV series: “The Offer,” “This Is Us,” “MacGyver” and “All Rise.”
Artery (2014 – 2023)
New York, NY
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist / Photographer
Worked on feature films and TV: “Zoolander 2,” Disney’s “Hocus Pocus 2,” HBO’s “Full Circle,” and “Palm Royal.”
Meta / Facebook / Carbon VFX (2019 – 2022)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Concept Artist
Created concept art for Meta VR immersive rooms and exhibitions projects.
Fuse FX (2015 – 2022)
Los Angeles, CA
Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on TV shows: “The Orville,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Mysterious Benedict Society,” and “Shantaram.”
Netflix / Fin Design Division (2020 – 2021)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on feature films and TV: “Interceptor,” “La Brea,” and “The Tourist.”
Pixomondo (2021)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Created planets for “Lost in Space” and post-apocalyptic Chicago scenes “Station Eleven.”
Digital Domain (2019 – 2022)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Matte Painter / Lead Concept Artist
Worked on Pink’s “Walk Me Home” music video, feature films, and commercials.
Imaginary Forces (2021)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Matte Painter
Worked on the “Foundation” TV series for Apple+.
Luma Pictures (2020 – 2021)
Santa Monica, CA
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Created concept art and matte painting for feature films.
Shade VFX / ILM Lucasfilm Collaboration (2019 – 2020)
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist / Photographer
“Raised by Wolves” TV series by Ridley Scott, concept art for HBO “Station Eleven.”
Method Studios (2019)
Los Angeles, CA
Concept Artist / Matte Painter
Created concept art and matte painting for high-end feature films and commercials.
Apple (Designory Advertising) (2018-2019)
Los Angeles, CA
Photography Retoucher / Lead Concept Artist
Worked on Apple Music digital projects and billboards “Taken by iPhone.”
DreamWorks Animation (2018)
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on the Fast & Furious animated TV show.
MPC (2014 – 2018)
New York, NY / Los Angeles, CA
Matte Painting Supervisor / Lead Concept Artist
Supervised matte painters and worked on award-winning commercials.
Framestore (2013 – 2019)
Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist / VR
Worked on commercials, animation, and virtual reality projects.
Brand New School (2015 – 2024)
Los Angeles and NYC offices
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Senior lead matte painter and concept artist working on commercials.
Elastic / a52 (2018)
Santa Monica, CA
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Created concept art and matte paintings for advertising projects.
Zoic Studios (2016)
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on “The Arrow” TV show, focusing on matte paintings and concept art.
Psyop LA (2016)
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on Star Wars commercials and TV spots, collaborating with ILM.
Logan TV (2016 – 2017)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Matte Painter / Environment Artist / Concept Artist
Worked on Apple and BMW commercials, as well as the “Cambria” TV show.
Mirada Studios (2016 – 2017)
Los Angeles, CA
Lead Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on Katy Perry music videos and commercials.
Stargate Studios (2015)
Los Angeles, CA
Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Senior matte painter and concept artist for “Heroes - Reborn”.
New York Film Academy (2015)
Los Angeles, CA
Digital Art Instructor
Teaching Matte Painting and Concept Art classes at New York Film Academy.
yU+CO (2015)
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Lead Matte Painter / Concept Artist
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2,” creating matte paintings and concept art.
CoSA VFX (2015)
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Lead Matte Painter / Visual Development Artist
Lead artist on the “Gotham” TV series, creating matte paintings and set extensions.
Atomic Fiction (2014 – 2015)
Montreal, QC, Canada
Senior Matte Painter / Visual Development Lead
Created photorealistic matte paintings for Robert Zemeckis’s “The Walk.”
Lead consultant on New York City's 1970s architectural design.
Walt Disney Animation Studios (2013-2014)
Burbank, CA
Look Development Artist / Senior Matte Painter
Developed matte paintings and set extensions for “Frozen” and “Big Hero 6.” Both animated features won the Academy Award for Best Animation.
Rhythm & Hues (2012 – 2013)
Los Angeles, CA
Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on “R.I.P.D.” and “The Seventh Son” feature films.
Charlex / 321 Launch (2011 – 2012)
New York, NY
Art Director / Matte Painting Supervisor
Worked on commercials and collaborated with advertising agencies as Art Director.
HBO / Brainstorm Digital (2010 – 2011)
New York, NY
Senior Matte Painter / Lead Concept Artist / Photographer
Worked on “Boardwalk Empire”, HBO series. Creating matte paintings and concept art recreating 1920s New York and Atlantic City, which won an Emmy for Achievement in VFX.
Rodeo FX (2010 – 2011)
Montreal, QC, Canada
Senior Matte Painter / Concept Artist
Worked on feature films “The Three Musketeers” and “Immortals.”
Intelligent Creatures (2009 – 2010)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Senior Matte Painter / 3D Environment Artist
Worked on feature films: “Piranha 3D,” “Nosso Lar,” and “The Bang Bang Club.”
Centennial College (2009)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Art of Matte Painting in VFX - Course Instructor
Developed and taught a course on Matte Painting and Concept Art, including full curriculum design and classroom instruction.
STARZ Animation (2008 – 2009)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Matte Painter / 3D Environment Artist
Worked on the animated feature “Hoodwinked 2.”
CORE Digital Pictures (2008)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Matte Painter / Texturing Artist / Architectural Consultant
Matte painter and concept artist on the TV show “The Tudors,” consulting on European castles architecture.
IMAX / Warner Brothers (2007 – 2008)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Digital Artist / Stereoscopic Conversion
Worked on “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”
Autodesk (2007)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Art Director / CG Generalist
Created CG assets for a TED scientific presentation conference.
MTV (2005)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Digital Artist / Designer
Created digital graphics for commercials and web content for MTV.
NHL / Sport FX (1999 – 2002)
Toronto, ON, Canada
Art Director / Lead Graphic Designer
Designed NHL-licensed products, catalogs, and multimedia.
Freelance Graphic Designer / Photographer (1995 – 1999)
New York, NY
Focused on print design, page layout, and advertising design.
Nemiga Newspaper (1991 – 1995)
Minsk, Soviet Union
Staff Graphic Designer / Art Director / Photographer
Focused on print design, page layout, and advertising design.