July 21, 1991

Mikhail Solovev

Currently living and working
in St Petersburg, Russia

Education

  • 2014 – 2021
    St Petersburg Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Painting
  • 2008 – 2013
    Primorsky Regional Art College, Department of Painting

Exhibitions

  • 2021
    Joining the Union of Artists, St. Petersburg
  • 2021
    ACADEMIA, Union of Artists, St. Petersburg
  • 2020
    Autumn Rhapsody, Cabinet of Arts of the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg
  • 2020
    Autumn 2020, Union of Artists, St. Petersburg
  • 2020
    Here rests the classics, collective exhibition of graduates of the workshop of V. S. Pesikov, Villa Vitali, St. Petersburg
  • 2019
    STARYKH GALLERY scholarship holder in the scholarship program of 2019-2020, St. Petersburg
  • 2019
    Natural class, IEC St. Petersburg Artist, St. Petersburg
  • 2018
    Finalist of the Gateway International Painting Competition, USA
  • 2018
    The Fifth All-Russian Competition for Young Artists A Muse Must Work, Artmuza, St. Petersburg
  • 2018
    International Festival ART the Way, Astoria, St. Petersburg
  • 2018
    Summer practice, Titian Hall of the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg
  • 2018
    Exhibition-competition ZERO'18 in FLOORS. People’s Choice Award for the painting Syrian Children, St. Petersburg
  • 2018
    AMERICAN ART AWARDS, 1st place in category 38 RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL, USA
  • 2017
    Youth of St. Petersburg, Union of Artists, St. Petersburg
  • 2017
    Copy Practice, Italian Hall of the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg
  • 2017
    By the Roads of Peter, conference hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Petersburg
  • 2016
    Exhibition on the results of summer practice in Crimea, Alupka
  • 2016
    Minakov Competition, Titian Hall of the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg
  • 2015
    First impression, Pushkinskie Gory, Pskov region
  • 2013
    ArtEtazh, Vladivostok

Mikhail’s paintings are kept in the funds of the Academy of Arts and Mikhaylovskoye Museum Reserve as well as private collections in Russia, Canada, China and Germany.

Artist Statement

At the beginning of my journey as an artist, I did not look for any special plastic language but studied Old Masters’ painting techniques. My priority was to show materiality and three-dimensional spaces. However, the more my skills improved, the more I started to think about thoughts and feelings I wanted to express.

In the search for the theme that would let me reveal all the creative potential, I dealt with historical, religious, mythological subjects, and acute social issues. Now I try to use centuries’ experience in painting techniques to show the power of realism and depth of eternal philosophic thought.

Today, the main goal for me is the study of human, its essence and nature. The “naked body” is the starting point of this cognitive process. During the learning phase, I understood the importance of anatomy and body plastics for aesthetic perception. Therefore, in my work I pay attention to textures, the bone base structure and shape. I strive to bring the perception of the naked body to the illusion of tactile sensation. Another important aim is to fulfill the image with inner content, spiritualize it and endue it with psychological features.

I found my art sharply negative but pleasantly wonderful capable of awaken dark emotions and thoughts.