Mikhail Chemiakin
Born in Moscow in 1943.
Soviet, American and Russian artist and sculptor. Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, People’s Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria, People’s Artist of the Republic of Agygea.
In 1956 Chemiakin entered the secondary school attached the USSR Academy of Arts Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, from which he was later expelled for having an artistic worldview that failed to conform to the standards of Socialist Realism. He worked in the Hermitage from 1959 to 1971 as a general labourer and rigger. In 1967 he founded the “Saint Petersburg” group of artists. Together with the philosopher Vladimir Ivanov, he devised the theory of Metaphysical Syntheticism dedicated to a search for new forms of icon-painting. In 1971 the Soviet authorities banished the artist from the USSR. He went to France and lived in Paris until 1981. There he became acquainted with Vladimir Vysotsky, recording seven of the actor, poet and singer’s records, and published the almanac Apollon-77. In 1981 Chemiakin moved to New York, where he became a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, as well as an honorary doctor of the European Academy of Arts (France).
Mikhail Chemiakin’s creative work spans many fields of art: from drawing to monumental sculpture, the theatre and cinema. The artist’s first exhibition took place in the editorial offices of the magazine Zvezda in 1962. As of today, the maestro has had more than 150 exhibitions in Russia and around the world. In the year 2000, Mikhail Chemiakin’s Museum of the Imagination was established in the town of Hudson in upstate New York.
Mikhail Chemiakin’s theatrical activities began in 1967 with a production of Shostakovich’s opera The Nose in the studio of the Leningrad Conservatory. Later, in the 2000s, the artist acted as director and designer for several productions at the Mariinsky Theatre: The Nutcracker, The Magic Nut and three one-act ballets.
In 2002, the Mikhail Chemiakin Foundation (now the Mikhail Chemiakin Centre) was opened in Saint Petersburg.
A detailed biography of the artist can be found on the Centre’s website.
Soviet, American and Russian artist and sculptor. Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, People’s Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria, People’s Artist of the Republic of Agygea.
In 1956 Chemiakin entered the secondary school attached the USSR Academy of Arts Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, from which he was later expelled for having an artistic worldview that failed to conform to the standards of Socialist Realism. He worked in the Hermitage from 1959 to 1971 as a general labourer and rigger. In 1967 he founded the “Saint Petersburg” group of artists. Together with the philosopher Vladimir Ivanov, he devised the theory of Metaphysical Syntheticism dedicated to a search for new forms of icon-painting. In 1971 the Soviet authorities banished the artist from the USSR. He went to France and lived in Paris until 1981. There he became acquainted with Vladimir Vysotsky, recording seven of the actor, poet and singer’s records, and published the almanac Apollon-77. In 1981 Chemiakin moved to New York, where he became a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, as well as an honorary doctor of the European Academy of Arts (France).
Mikhail Chemiakin’s creative work spans many fields of art: from drawing to monumental sculpture, the theatre and cinema. The artist’s first exhibition took place in the editorial offices of the magazine Zvezda in 1962. As of today, the maestro has had more than 150 exhibitions in Russia and around the world. In the year 2000, Mikhail Chemiakin’s Museum of the Imagination was established in the town of Hudson in upstate New York.
Mikhail Chemiakin’s theatrical activities began in 1967 with a production of Shostakovich’s opera The Nose in the studio of the Leningrad Conservatory. Later, in the 2000s, the artist acted as director and designer for several productions at the Mariinsky Theatre: The Nutcracker, The Magic Nut and three one-act ballets.
In 2002, the Mikhail Chemiakin Foundation (now the Mikhail Chemiakin Centre) was opened in Saint Petersburg.
A detailed biography of the artist can be found on the Centre’s website.
THIS ARTIST’S WORKS FOR THE PUBLISHING HOUSE
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Painter, graphic artist, creator of ex-libris and inventive sculptural assemblages. Awarded grants by the Foundation of the Trustees of the Mariinsky Theatre and by the Foundation of the President of Russia. Has taken part in more than 120...
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