Armusik Academy of Classical Art

Exhibition: Tradition Renewed

The artist, apprentices and selected students of the Armusik Academy of Classical Art

Exhibition on display:
November 3 - December 19, 2025
Art Space, located in the Classroom Building room 100
Gallery Hours:
Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meet the Artists:
Thursday, November 6 | 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Artist Statement:

Eric Armusik, (b. 1973) paints classical figurative art reminiscent of the Old Masters. His paintings are a declaration to the dramatic power of representational art and a testimony to the tradition of epic storytelling. The origin of his inspiration does not lie in academia, but rather his childhood, surrounded by the vivid paintings he gazed upon in Gothic cathedrals as a child. Eric is never satisfied with just painting a well-rendered figure; he aspires to paint a profound moment, a glimpse into the tragic or sublime human experience that transcends culture, religion and time itself. Eric Armusik is passionate about painting complex, dramatic narratives that celebrate both the joy and sorrow of the human experience. His realist art resonates with the viewer on a visceral level by illuminating the universal struggles and triumphs of life's journey.

About the artists:

Eric Armusik
Born in 1973, Eric Armusik has established himself one of today's strongest purveyors of traditional figurative painting and portraiture. While attending Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a B. F. A. in painting, and an art history minor in Baroque Art, he had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy. Daily he drew from the masterworks of artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, Caravaggio, and Artemisia Gentileschi. Today Eric is recognized by the Art Renewal Center as an Associate Living Master, he is an artist ambassador for Jerry's Artarama Art Supplies, a Boldbrush Signature Artist, and is a writer for their FineArtViews publication.

For over 21 years, Eric has taught traditional drawing, and painting to students from all over the globe. In 2018, he formalized his artistic teaching by creating the AACA - Armusik Academy of Classical Art. Each week, Eric teaches students from around the world via video, and a select few students locally in his studio.

In September 2016, Eric began his largest project to date - painting 40 large 4ft x 5ft panels of Dante’s Inferno with the assistance of renowned Dante Scholar, Christopher Kleinhenz. When this series is completed, it will be displayed in a large museum exhibition. It will be the most comprehensive series on the Inferno ever created. His artwork has been prominently featured in "The New York Times," "Wall Street Journal," "Chicago Tribune," "MutualArt Magazine," "American Artist Magazine," "American Art Collector," "Fine Art Connoisseur," "The Huffington Post," "Victorian Homes," and "Old House Journal."

Marky Barto
From a young age, I have been captivated by all things of a creative nature and have been fortunate to explore art across many countries and cultures. Growing up in former Czechoslovakia, I graduated from a bilingual high school before moving to the Netherlands, one of the most art-rich places in the world. There, inspired to explore painting and drawing, I enrolled in a transformative art class led by established artist Maria Affourtit, who fueled my ambition to become an artist. However, it would be several years before I found the courage to pursue art professionally, while earning my degree in psychology.

Upon moving to the United States, I had the privilege of studying under renowned Classical artist Eric Armusik. In December 2018, I began a long-term apprenticeship in his studio, creating paintings for private clients and churches worldwide, and assisting him with his Dante Inferno project.

As an artist, I thrive on fostering creativity in others and advocate for appreciating the beauty of art passed down from our ancestors. I believe art is a universal language that bridges the gap between cultures. Through all my travels and experiences however, I find that realism resonates with my soul the most – the allegorical stories and dramatic, skilled portraiture of the Old Masters, continually inspire my work. In addition to painting and drawing in the style of the Old Masters, I enriched my repertoire with paper filigree, an art form that goes back to the 14th century Europe.

Nadija Armusik
Nadija Armusik was born in 2002 in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of master oil painter Eric Armusik. Since beginning her professional career in 2018, she has cultivated a striking and distinctive style of Gothic surrealism. Her work blends the monochromatic intensity of charcoal with the radiant shimmer of gold and copper accents, elevating her imagery into something truly otherworldly. Through her art, Nadija conjures a world where beauty and darkness intertwine, where the mystery of nature, the allure of the spiritual realm, and the haunting presence of things that go bump in the night coexist in a dramatic and ethereal harmony.

Claire Hess
Claire Hess, a native of Allentown, PA, began working in Eric’s studio in 2022 and has since been cultivating a striking artistic voice of her own. Over the past two years, she has been developing a dramatic, medieval-inspired fantasy series that captures beautiful, immersive moments—inviting viewers to step into a world of wonder, mystery, and transformation.