World’s Best Minimalists: BARULINS, BARKER, WANG, JUNG, MOORE, MALASITS, YI, ŠIMOLIŪNIENĖ, GRACE, HRYTSKO & PEREIRA / 2024 WORLD ART AWARDS

Thom Bierdz
6 min readJun 28, 2024

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Artists from 61 countries competed in the 2024 WORLD ART AWARDS where 20 of the most revered galleries in the world were sent online images to score in drawing, painting, sculpture, digital and photography. The 300+ winning works, 1st to 6th Place (and ties) in all 50 categories, will be revealed in this column one category at a time, and also an upcoming movie.

The WINNERS in CATEGORY 25. MINIMALISM represent LATVIA, USA, HUNGARY, CHINA, UKRAINE, LITHUANIA & AUSTRALIA.

BIO OF 1ST PLACE WINNER: Igors Barulins

is an artist born in 1959 in Latvia, currently residing and working in its capital city, Riga.

From the age of ten, Igor began practicing photography and later joined a prestigious photo club in Riga. His decades of experience as both an independent artist and a professional photographer in the publishing and advertising industries have shaped his unique style.

Igors Barulins is not just a photographer; he is an artist whose work blends traditional and contemporary approaches. He experiments with various technical and technological methods to create pieces of art that provoke thought and inspire.

His photographs take viewers on a journey through time and space, where each frame conveys emotions and tells its own story. Through Igor’s lens, we see the world anew, with colors, light, and shadows playing together.

Skillfully utilizing digital processing, Igor creates unique effects and visual illusions. His works are not mere snapshots; they are true works of art that evoke admiration and wonder.

Igor’s talent and artistic maturity have been recognized through numerous victories in prestigious competitions, including the American Art Awards, World Art Awards, and Art Collectors Choice from 2018 to 2024. His pieces are proudly held by private collectors worldwide and featured in renowned galleries such as Singulart and Saatchi Art. www.barulins.art

ART COLLECTORS — CONTACT THE WINNERS HERE: CATEGORY 25. MINIMALISM

1st Place IGORS BARULINS LATVIA www.barulins.art “Noon Shadow On Sirius “ 60x90cm Digital photography.

2nd Place — Tie MICHAEL E. BARKER USA www.artbymichelangelogallery.com “Chicago” 11x14” Pencil and sharpie on canvas.

2nd Place — Tie Q. WANG USA http://Q-Wang.com “Los Angeles 20230516” 16x20" Acrylic on canvas.

3rd Place — Tie CHLOE JUNG USA chloechoeunjung@gmail.com “Sister’s Presence” 16x20” Oil on canvas.

3rd Place — Tie SUSAN MOORE USA www.foreverendeavor.us “Paper Cherries On A Blanket” 30x40" Acrylic on canvas.

4th Place — Tie ZSOLT MALASITS HUNGARY www.malasitsfestmeny.hu “Centaur And The Nymph” 100x110cm Acrylic and oil on canvas.

4th Place — Tie ZHAO YI CHINA fiona2024@vip.163.com “Table Side Event 1–2” 30x60cm Acrylic on linen.

5th Place — Tie LIUDMYLA HRYTSKO UKRAINE https://drive.google.com/file/d/167lRb1RrMZeweovgRwh7QPWtAijWlt-c/view?usp=drive_link “Ladybug In The Sun” 70x50cm Oil on canvas.

5th Place — Tie ANGELĖ ŠIMOLIŪNIENĖ LITHUANIA a.simoliuniene@gmail.com “Two People’s Approach To Life” 64x44cm Acrylic on paper.

6th Place — Tie MICHAEL E. BARKER USA www.artbymichelangelogallery.com “Island Chain” 11x14” Epoxy resin on canvas.

6th Place — Tie ERIN GRACE USA https://roffaap.com “Disconnected” 9x12” Watercolor on cold press.

6th Place — Tie MONICA PEREIRA AUSTRALIA monicaviews@yahoo.com.au “Energy Of Tri” 60x90cm Canvas, acrylic paint, impasto, gloss, texture.

In 2024, WORLD ART AWARDS had submissions from these 61 countries: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Denmark, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, UK, Ukraine, USA, Viet Nam, Wales, Zambia.

The World Art Awards 20 Best Galleries & Museums for 2024 who were asked to score art: (in alphabetical order by country):

Best in Australia: Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

Best in Chile: Isabel Aninat Gallery

Best in Columbia: Beatriz Esguerra Art

Best in Czech Republic: Knupp Gallery

Best in Georgia: UGallery

Best in Israel: Corridor Contemporary

Best in Japan: Nanzuka Underground

Best in Latvia: Galerija Romas Darzs

Best in Malaysia: Gallery des Artistes / Gallery@Tropicana

Best in Morocco: Comptoir des Mines Galerie

Best in Myanmar: New Treasure Art Gallery

Best in Portugal: Underdogs

Best in Taiwan: 1839 Contemporary Gallery

Best in United Kingdom: Miart Gallery London

Best in USA / Alabama: Alabama Contemporary Art Center

Best in USA / Arizona: Exposures International Gallery Of Fine Art

Best in USA / Iowa: Moberg Gallery

Best in USA / Nebraska: Kiechel Fine Art

Best in USA / South Dakota: South Dakota Art Museum

Best in USA / Utah: Ogden Contemporary Arts

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Thom Bierdz

One of Medium’s TOP ART CONTRIBUTORS, award-winning author, actor, film-maker, painter. 12 books: 6 on art. President of WAA & AAA & ACCA.