About

sculptor, art director of film Michael Levchenko

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Was born in Kiev, Ukraine. Many of his works belong to private and public collections in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Chile, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States.

In 2019, took part in “The Shadow of Dream” cast at Giardini della Biennale” within Ukrainian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale.

BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Kiev to a father who was an architect and painter, and to a mother who was a graphic designer. As a child, I recall joining my father in the ateliers of friends and colleagues, where there was a lot of smoking, coffee drinking, and arguing about modern Western art, which was prohibited in the USSR. As I grew up in an artistic environment, it was inevitable that I should begin painting at an early age. To my mind, being a painter meant freedom and rebellion. Fortunately, this kept me away from typical teenage problems, as I was too busy creating art. At the age of 12, I began attending evening painting classes at an art school after my regular daytime studies. I later enrolled in the National Academy of Arts and Architecture in the sculpture department. The school was a figurative Soviet school with a focus on propagandistic monuments.

After “Perestroika”, Ukrainian independence, and the fall of the iron curtain, many European exhibitions made clear that the art world was different from the one we were taught about at the conservative academy.

After graduating with a master’s degree in fine arts, I progressively opted for a more abstract and less figurative approach to sculpture.

Although the founders of abstraction, Kasimir Malevich and sculptor Aleksandr Arkhipenko, were born and worked in my native city, they were deliberately forgotten and prohibited during Soviet times.

While I spent a good deal of time doing different things: theatre art direction, cinema direction, creating music and promotional videos, and filming documentaries, I always return to my first love of sculpting.

A trip to Rome in 2004 led me to make sculpture and painting my first priority. From 1999 to 2011, I was a member of the National Professional Union of Painters of Ukraine (a youth organization).

I am currently a member of the Professional Artists’ Union, which is affiliated with the International Associate of Art IAA/UNESCO Ukraine.
Since 2008, I have been a member of the International Association for Monumental Sculpture Events, Italy.
Since 2007, I have participated in more in more than 60 international sculpting symposiums, festivals, and exhibitions in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Chile, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States.

Travel has always had a great impact on my work and mindset. I have met many interesting people and visited hundreds of exhibitions and dozens of museums worldwide.

EDUCATION

UKRAINE 2016-2020, National Academy of Culture and Arts Management, Ph.D. research, Culture Study, Kyiv
UKRAINE 1994-2000, Ukrainian Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, B.F.A., M.F.A. Sculpture emphasis, Kyiv
UKRAINE 1991-1994, National Art School, Sculpture emphasis, Kyiv,
UKRAINE 1988-1991, Art School No. 2, Painting emphasis, Kyiv,

MEMBERSHIPS

UNITED KINGDOM, Royal Society of Sculptors since 2023

LUXEMBOURG, ARC Professional Artists Association since 2022

UKRAINE, Ukrainian Professional Artists’ Union Accepted to society in 1999-2011
ITALY, AIESM International Association for Monumental Sculpture, Professional member since 2008

Awards

FRANCE 2022, Biennale Marc la Tour, Medal of Senator of French Republic, award for artistic merit

ITALY 2018, Florence, International Art Prize Leonardo da Vinci, award for artistic merit
CHINA 2013, Nanjing, International Monumental Sports Sculpture Competition, Award
CHINA 2012, Jinpo, International Monumental Sculpture Competition, Special prize
UKRAINE 2003, Kyiv, Monument to Lost Journalists Competition, journalist’s prize
UKRAINE 1998, Kyiv, National Art Students competition, First prize

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

CYPRUS 2015 International Sculpture Park, Aya Napa
ARGENTINA 2014, Santa Fe, Museum of Contemporary Art in Roldan
ITALY 2013, San Benedetto del Tronto, Art Museum by the Sea
ITALY 2008, Vollterra, Museum of Contemporary Art
ARGENTINA 2008, Santa Fe, Museum of Contemporary Art in Roldan

EXHIBITIONS and AUCTIONS

SOLO

LUXEMBOURG 2023 , Simoncini Gallery

UKRAINE 2019 Solo Exhibition “Multimedia Political Correctness, 18 +”, branch of “Kyiv Art Gallery” National Museum

GROUP
INDIA 2020 International Online “100 Eminent Art Exhibition” by the the Bindaas Artist Group, Mirzapur, India
UKRAINE 2019 All-Ukrainian Art Exhibition dedicated to Independence Day of Ukraine, Kyiv
ITALY 2019 “The Shadow of Dream” cast upon Giardini della Biennale”, Ukrainian pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale, Venice
UKRAINE 2018 Art Festival Fair “ArtWeCan”, Kiev
BELGIUM 2017 International Sculpture Exhibition in New Jorg Gallery, Kalmhaut
LUXEMBURG 2016 International Sculpture Exhibition in Central Train Station.
GERMANY 2016 International Sculpture Exhibition in the Hamburg Castle, Hamburg
GERMANY 2015 International Sculpture Exhibition, Gallery Mucha – Schwarzenbek
GERMANY 2014 International Sculpture Exhibition, Gallery Mucha – Schwarzenbek
MONACO 2014, International ART MONACO Fair
USA 2014, SEE ME International Art Exhibition, Long Island, NY
USA 2013, SCOPE ART MIAMI BEACH, Miami
USA 2013, SEE ME International Art Exhibition, Long Island, NY
GERMANY 2013, Sculpture Auction in ST.Blasien, Baden
USA 2013, Angel Opensanz Foundation for Contemporary Art, NEW YORK City
FRANCE 2013, International Art Fair Carrousel du Musee du Louvre, PARIS
ITALY 2012, International Arte PADOVA Fair
USA 2012, International PARALLAX ART FAIR, NEW YORK City
NORWAY 2012, exhibition, Kristiansund, OVERLand Gallery
GERMANY 2011, Sculpture Auction in ST.Blasien, Baden,
ISRAEL 2011,International Sculpture Exhibition ,Maalot
ARGENTINA 2008, 2nd International Small Sculpture Exhibition, Casa de Italia, Roldan, Santa Fe
ITALY 2008, International Sculpture Exhibition, Contemporary Art Museum, Volterra, Pisa
UKRAINE 2006, Contemporary Art Gallery TSEKH”, Kiev
UKRAINE 2005, National Sculpture Triennial, Central Artists’ House Kiev
USA 1999, Ukrainian Young Artists Exhibition and Auction, Miami
UKRAINE 1998,Kiev “Stone-98” International Sculpture Exhibition
USA 1997, Anderson Art Center Exhibition Chicago
GERMANY 1997, Group Exhibition Viflingen
CZECH REPUBLIC 1996, Group Exhibition Olomoutz
UKRAINE 1995, International “Art-Piramy” Exhibition by Ukrainian Department of Culture Kiev
UKRAINE 1993-2004, Took part in nine Annual All-Ukraine Exhibitions National Union of Ukrainian Artists

ART RESIDENCIES

SLOVENIA 2023, Artist in residency, Nova Goriza, Art Cercle

LUXEMBOURG 2022, Artist in residency, Ecsh-sur-Alzete, Hariko.

BELGIUM 2017, Artist in residency, New Jorg Gallery, Kalmaut, Antverpen

INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUMS

2023
BELGIUM, Antwerp, Kalmthout International Stone Sculpture Symposium,

2022

TURKEY, International Sculpture Symposium in Alanya.

LUXEMBOURG, International Wood Sculpture Symposium in Lorenzwailer

FRANCE International Granite Sculpture Biennale, Marc la Tour

2021 UKRAINE, Slavsko National Stone Sculpture Symposium

2019
SAUDI ARABIA Jeddah Red Sea International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Jeddah
CHINA International Sculpture Symposium,Chancung Sculpture Museum, Chanchung
ITALY International Sculpture Symposium, Lutago
ITALY International Wood Sculpture Festival “Chi sei”, Val di Fassa
UKRAINE International Sculpture Symposium “Interaction”, Bila Tserkva
2018
CHINA Sculpture Symposium in International Sculpture Park, Zhangzhou
UKRAINE “Music of the City” Sculpture Symposium, Pokrovsk
LUXEMBOURG Gare Art Festival, Luxembourg
CANADA International Art Symposium, Saint-Georges, (Québec)
ISRAEL International Sculpture Symposium, Magar
2017
ISRAEL International Sculpture Symposium, Dimona
CHILE International Sculpture Symposium, Santiago de Chile
AZERBAIJAN International Sculpture Symposium, Baku
FRANCE International Sculpture Symposium, Saint Michel de Chavaignes
TURKEY International Marble Sculpture Symposium, Adana
IRAN International Sculpture Symposium, Tehran
2016
IRAN International Sculpture Symposium, Tabriz
LUXEMBURG, Gare International Art Festival, Luxemburg
ITALY International Wood Sculpture Symposium, Valle Aurina
TURKEY 23rd International Wood Sculpture Symposium, Izmit
2015
GERMANY 2015  International  Sculpture Symposium, Dresden, Moritzburg
TURKEY 2015 International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Erdek
CYPRUS 2015 International Sculpture Symposium, Aya Napa
2014
TURKEY  2014  Alanya International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Alanya
ARGENTINA 2014 International Sculpture Symposium, Roldan, Santa Fe
GERMANY  2014  International  Sculpture Symposium, Dresden, Meteliz
2013
GERMANY  2013  International Wood Sculpture Symposium, St.Blasien
ISRAEL 2013  International Sculpture Symposium, Hurfeish
ITALY   2013  International Sculpture Symposium, San Benedetto del Tronto
FRANCE  2013 International Ice  Sculpture Fest, Valloire
FRANCE  2013 International Snow Sculpture Fest, Valloire
2012
TURKEY   2012 International Sculpture Symposium, Hasankeyf, Batman
NORWAY  2012 International Granite Sculpture Symposium, Eide
CHINA   2012 International Urban Sculpture Creation Camp, Jinpo
2011
CHINA   2011 International Sculpture Festival, Huyan
GERMANY  2011 International Sculpture Symposium, St.Blasien
TURKEY   2011 International Sculpture Symposium, Istanbul
ISRAEL 2011  XX International Sculpture Symposium , Maalot
2010
TURKEY   2010 International Sculpture Symposium, Izmir
CHINA   2010 International  Urban Sculpture  Creation Camp, Tangshan, Nahu Park
SYRIA   2010 International Sculpture Symposium, Damascus
TURKEY   2010 1th International Sculpture Symposium, Malatya
2009
TURKEY  2009 6th Alanya International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Alanya
CHINA 2009 International   Urban Sculpture Creation Camp, Urumqui,
CANADA 2009 International Snow Sculpture Festival, Sarnia,
USA 2009 International Snow Sculpture Symposium, Frankenmuth, Michigan
2008
ARGENTINA 2008 First International Sculpture Symposium, Palpala, Jujuy
ARGENTINA 2008 2nd International Sculpture Symposium, Roldan, Santa Fe
ARGENTINA 2008 First  International Sculpture Symposium  Puerto General de San Martin, Santa Fe
TURKEY 2008 6th International Huseyin GEZER Marble Sculpture Symposium, Mersin,
ITALY 2008 5th International Sculpture Symposium Volterra, Pisa,
JAPAN 2008  Ice Sculpture Festival Asahikawa, Hokkaido
2007
SPAIN 2007  7th International Marble  Sculpture Symposium, Almeria
1998
UKRAINE 1998 All-Ukrainian Symposium of  Wooden Sculpture,  Ohtyrka,

WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

2019 – Expert of Visual Art Council, Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Kyiv, UKRAINE
2001-2009 – Art teaching practice in PRIVATE ART SCHOOL, Kyiv, UKRAINE
2007-2008 – Assistant of Art director Ice Sculpture Production, Moskow, RUSSIA
2004-2007 Design of “Golden Frame” Award and logo for Kynolitipis International Film Festival, Kyiv, UKRAINE
2003 – Completion of steel monument to film director, S. Zelenchuk Hmelnytskyi,UKRAINE
2003 – Completion of bronze monument to opera singer, F. Shalyapin, and painter, K. KorovinGurzuf, A.R.K., UKRAINE
2002 – Internship, Stone-Vision Decorative Sculpture Company, Valencia, SPAIN

Languages
Ukrainian, Russian (native)
English, Spanish, Italian (read, write, speak)