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