Faculty

John and Lena Murray

Recent Orange residents John and Lena Murray have a studio in Orange where they work and teach. They are also the founders of the Bridgeview School of Fine Arts in NYC and the Blue Ridge Studio of Fine Arts in Orange, both offering classical training in painting to adults and children. Upon graduating from the Pennsylvania Academy, John worked as a banknote designer for the US Treasury where, among other things he created the portrait of Abraham Lincoln for the $5 bill. He has taught at many colleges and art studios including the Corcoran School of Art in DC. Currently John is a professor of drawing, painting and sculpture at Woodberry School in Orange. Lena studied painting at the Repin Academy in her home town of St. Petersburg Russia and also in New York at her own Bridgeview School and the Sculpture Center. John and Lena have exhibited their work in many galleries in the US and Europe. John has done painting and sculpture commissions including Georgetown University and Gala Hispanic theatre in DC. In 2021, 2022 & 2023 they had major exhibits at the Baker Gallery of Woodberry School in Orange.

Varvara Agabekova

Varvara Agabekova was born in Leningrad, Russia. She comes from a family of artists. Both her father and grandfather were classically-trained painters. Varvara showed talent at an early age and her parents enrolled her in specialized art schools for gifted children where at the age of 9 one would have to pass an audition. She continued to the prestigious Serov College of Fine Arts and ultimately the 6 year program at one of the oldest and best art academies in the world, the Repin Academy. Upon graduation with MFA in Easel Painting she went back to teach at her alma mater Serov College. Later she emigrated to the United States where she also taught at various studios and exhibited her work in galleries and art centers. In addition to teaching at Blue Ridge Varvara also teaches portrait and still life painting at the Princeton Academy of Art in Princeton, NJ.