'I' No11 Painting

My studies in art begun when I was 12 years old; yet, I believe I become a fully ‘formed’ artist only in recent years. My induction into diverse concepts of Western art was, apparently, a ‘late coming’ event. Fortunately, I carried with me the skills and knowledge acquired in other art schools; this allowed me to combine different skill and approaches and apply them to my work. Throughout my studio practice, I was committed to a media of painting. The main attraction of painting for me, among many other traits, is the qualities that I value the most - emotional energy and intellectual drive. I was born in a small industrial town in USSR and brought up under the influences of Russian cultural heritage. I was trained as an artist within a philosophy dominated by Socialist Realism and after attending the Art College in Ryazan and Academy of Arts in Leningrad, I moved to Kenya, East Africa. Over the next sixteen years, I lived and worked in Africa, establishing myself as an artist, illustrator and interior designer. Eventually, I moved to the United Kingdom to study contemporary art. A few years ago I completed my MA Fine Art course with a distinction and the prestigious first prize award from Aston-Bowater Bequest. The studies introduced some new aspects to my art practice; my work becomes more focused on the development of concepts and research. My work is regularly exhibited in the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia; they also can be found in private and public collections.