Gallery in Europe, apartment and car: Russian oligarch Friedman tried to “buy” a Ukrainian artist

Ukrainian artist Irina Tretyak shared interesting stories about meetings with influential people and their unexpected proposals.

Several years ago, at a Lviv festival, Irina was approached by friends of the Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman. They asked her to sit next to the businessman at the same table, promising that he would buy her painting for 40 thousand dollars.

Irina understood what this could lead to and refused. She spoke about this in an interview with Lux FM:

“It was in Lviv at the opening of my exhibition. This was before the coronavirus. They found out that my exhibition was taking place, his (Friedman’s - ed.) friends came to the gallery and invited me, so to speak, to sit at the opening next to Friedman and for this they would buy my painting for 40 thousand dollars. I refused."

The artist also recalled the strangest offers from wealthy people, whose names she chose not to name. According to Irina, she was offered very valuable gifts, both in Ukraine and abroad, but she always refused:

Thus, despite tempting offers, Irina stands firmly on her principles - not to get involved with Russians and influential people.