BIO
artist's statement
Born in Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad), Russia, in 1966. Graduated from an Architectural institute in 1989 with a degree in Architecture. Moved to Moscow, where worked as an architect, Moved to Glasgow, UK, in 1996. Self-taught, although studied arts as part of degree as an architect. Exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute, Paisley Art Institute and Aspect Prize Annual exhibitions. Represented by established galleries at the Art Fairs in London, Battersea, Chelsea, Oxford,Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Ireland etc; Have works in private and corporate collections throughout the UK, Australia, USA, Greece, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Russia. There were a number of articles in local and national press concerning my work and images had appeared in the TV Channel 4 Grand Design. Works exhibited in established galleries throughout the UK.
Selected galleries and exhibitions:
Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art
RGI Kelly gallery
Paisley Art Institute and Aspect Prize
Home and Interiors Exhibitions, SECC Glasgow
Affordable Art Fairs London,Battersea,Oxford,Glasgow (GAF), Chelsea, Birmingham, Aberdeen
First Contemporary Art Fairs Edinburgh
Karen Tailor Contemporary Fine Art, Twickenham, London
Colomb Art Gallery, Marylebone, London
Enid Lawson Gallery, London
Off The Wall Gallery, Cardiff
Regent Gallery, Somerset, Weston-super-Mare
Rowan Gallery, Drymen, Loch Lomond and Helensburh
Christo's Gallery, Glasgow
Arteries Gallery, Glasgow
ArtForum Gallery, Milngavie, Glasgow
The Annan Gallery, Glasgow, West End
McGregor Fine Art, Glasgow
Scotlandart.com, Edinburgh and Glasgow
The Sun Gallery, Newburgh,Fife
Hanover Fine Art, Edinburgh
Westminster Gallery, London
Laurel Gallery, Edinburgh
Gallery Luti, Callander
Tolquhon gallery, by Tarves, Aberdeenshire
The Jerdan Gallery, Crail
Tartan Gallery, Edinburgh
Alpha art, Edinburgh
Dancing Light Gallery, West Linton
Fotheringham Gallery, Bridge of Allan
Devorgilla Gallery, Dumfries
Tony Higgins Haig Gallery , Kelso
The Storm Studies Gallery, Moffat
High Street Gallery, Kirkudbright
Frameworks Gallery, Troon
Macmillans Cancer Relief Charity Exhibition, Glasgow and Edinburgh
Hancel Foundation Art Auctions
Retail Trust Charity Exhibition, Glasgow
Marie Curie Cancer Relief Charity Auction
The Preshal Trust Charity Auction
Children's First Charity Auction
University of Glasgow CHAS and Cancer research Charity Exhibition and Auction
Auction Sale in Aid of Yorkhill Childrens' Hospital
Castle Gallery, Inverness
Sable&Ox gallery,York
Frames Gallery, Artesan Gallery, Perth, and Perth Festival
Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
Tracey McNee Fine Art, Glasgow
The Queens Road Gallery, Aberdeen
e-gallery, Bearsden,
Spring Art Fair, Sweden
Growing up under the authoritarian Soviet regime, when ordinary Russians had to wear that drab look of obedience and self-suppression, I had always wanted to escape from that total uniformity and find the way to express my vision of life in a different way, reflecting happier, funnier side of everyday life.
We are all too busy with everyday life, we see things but don't always notice. My subjects live amongst us, they are what they are and they dont take themselves too seriously. They are us-recognizable in every situation. We see one thing but they tell us another. Like many things in life-things are not always the way they seem.
I want to provoke a comment, a reaction, an emotion. I want to make you smile.
My subjects are loosely based on own experiences and observation of life-but it is not a mirror image or a parody. They might at times seem emotionally isolated, even when they are clustered in groups, but they are not lacking emotions, they only express them in their own way, and are not shy to be different. They dont critisize or impose their point of view and don't depend on what anyone thinks of them. They live and let live and they do not take themselves too seriously.
I paint or draw every day, but it's not all work and no play. Little spare time that I have is taken over by music and dance which has a big influence on my work. It's all rock-n-roll, jump jive, west coast swing, 1950s R&B, rockabilly etc-all things 1920-1950s..Performed at several events-Help for Heroes show at the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow; Victory Day Show at City Council Chambers; various supporting acts and fundraising events etc.