Alexander Antanenka was born in the Soviet Union in the city of Brest on February 16, 1951. His father was a Soviet Pilot during World War Two and then later became a professor of mathematics at Brest University where he met his wife to be, a teacher of literature.

Alex showed an interest in art even as a young boy. He started drawing in pencil at the age of 5. He attended art school in Brest during grade school at which time he decided that painting would be his life. He went on to attend the Art Academy in Leningrad, (Saint Peterburg), Russia where he graduated at the top of his class in 1978.