About

Artist Statement

I realized that metal shaped my thoughts and I was destined to transform them into reality when I began working as a blacksmith at the age of 16. I studied at the Social University in my native city of Kolumna, Russia at the Faculty of Drawing and Fine Arts. My experience there helped me understand fundamental concepts that act as the foundation for my work today – for which I am grateful. I learned early on that discovering your reason for being born can be a massive relief and also a huge responsibility.

The only artistic devices I engage throughout my work are experimentation and improvisation. I have no «one-size-fits-all» technique nor do I have a specific approach to forming or shaping my materials. I am not fixed by any intentional or precise stylistic process. For example, my first solo exhibition was called «Steampunk» – a series produced completely in a style to which I never returned. The monument to the Water Carrier that I created and installed in my home city was an exploration in Monumentalism. So much depends on the artistic idea.

So I think the key message of ​​my work is Humanism – aside from any other themes or styles that may be engaged. Considering my series dedicated to the World Wars and my series dedicated to the Indigenous Peoples of America, what truly holds them together is my enduring love and compassion for humanity. This is what drives me to create.


Awards

2020

FIRE PIT AND SCULPTURE COMPETITION – WinterFest 2020: First Prize + People’s Choice Award – Bend, OR, United States

2018

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION BY MIHAIL CHEMIAKIN – Category Winner, Project “Musée Imaginaire” – Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2018

VI INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC BLACKSMITH AWARD – First Prize in the sphere of Metal Sculpture – Alpens, Spain

2014

ANNUAL GOVERNOR AWARD OF MOSCOW REGION, Russia «OUR MOSCOW REGION» – First Prize in the category “Connection of Times”, Project “Monument of the Water Carrier” – Kolomna, Russia

Solo Exhibitions

2018

Exhibition on the Project “Musée Imaginaire” / Mihail Chemiakin’s Centre – Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2012

The Water-Currier Monument was unveiled / The Bank of Moscow River – Kolomna, Russia

2011

«Ironville» / Cultural Centre «Ligue» – Kolomna, Russia

2010

«Steampunk» / Cultural Centre “Ozerov’s Place” – Kolomna, Russia

Group Exhibitions

2019

Forging Collab Sculpture «Katydid» / The National Ornamental Metal Museum – Memphis, TN, United States

2019

Forging Collab Sculpture «Mantis» / Ken Scott’s Imagination Gallery – Sisters, OR, United States

2019

«One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind…» / XXIII Art Biennial – Stia, Italy

2019

“Measured Making Exhibition – 150 mm challenge” / Hereford Colleague of Arts – Hereford, United Kingdom

2018

“The Leaves Cover the War” Exposition / “Borey Art Centre” – Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2014

“Angels’ Post” / Moscow river bank – Kolomna, Russia

2013

«Heavy Illustration» / Zverev Centre of Modern Art – Moscow, Russia

2013

«Heavy Illustration» / Museum Residence «ArtKommunalka» – Kolomna, Russia

2010

«Old-Timer Gallery» / “Crocus-Expo Centre” – Moscow, Russia

Publications

January-March 2013 – Альманах Музей-резиденции «Арткоммуналка. Ерофеев и другие»

First Quarter 2019 – Hot Iron News – The Voice of the Northwest Blacksmith Association, USA

Second Quarter 2019 – Hot Iron News – The Voice of the Northwest Blacksmith Association, USA

Forth Quarter 2019 – Hot Iron News – The Voice of the Northwest Blacksmith Association, USA

April 2019 – “150 mm Challenge” – Hereford Times, UK

March 2018 – ИА «Regnum»: https://yarodom.livejournal.com/2253176.html

Volume 47 Number 3 Summer 2019 – The Anvil’s Ring (A Journal of the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America)

September 2019 Volume 25 Issue 9 – Cascade A&E

October 2019 Volume 25 Issue 10 – Cascade A&E: http://www.cascadeae.com/forging-relationships-the-central-oregon-metal-arts-guild-its-sixth-annual-show-sale/

Settembre 2019 – Catalogue XXIIII Biennale Europea d’Arte Fabbrile, Stia, Italy

March 2020 Volume 26 Issue 3 – Cascade A&E: http://www.cascadeae.com/american-and-russian- collaboration-wins-the-fire-pit-sculpture-competition-at-oregon- winterfest/

Volume 48 Number 2 Spring 2020 – The Anvil’s Ring: Quarterly Journal of the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America

First Quarter 2020 – Hot Iron News – The Voice of the Northwest Blacksmith Association, USA

Residencies

2019

National Ornamental Metal Museum – Memphis, TN, United States

2013

Museum Residency “Art Kommunalka” V. Erofeev and others – Kolomna, Russia

Permanent collections

2020

National Park in the city of Prineville, OR, United States

2020

Ken Scott’s Imagination Gallery, United States

2019

North West Blacksmith Association Archives, United States

2019

Hereford College of Arts, United Kingdom

2019

National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN, United States

2018

Alpens Town Hall, Spain

2013

Museum and Residency “Art Kommunalka”, Russia