Simon Shegelman was born in 1933 in Belarus, the amazing part of Russia that gave to the world numerous talented writers, scientists, poets and artists, as well as the great master, Marc Chagall. Shegelman grew up in an environment of ancient traditions and the customs of everyday life. Here in 1952, he graduated from high school with an honors diploma.

Shegelman`s paintings are optimistic, hopeful, and promising. The colourful, aesthetic, enchanting surfaces of the canvas poetically and philosophically reflect the vitality, vigour, and eternal existence of our humanity. His canvases sing the praise of all that is valuable in man’s existence – love of people, music and dance, memories of ancient objects, the surprising beauty of trees, flowers and grasses.