Quick Facts
Biography
Andrey Esionov (born November 30, 1963) is a Russian painter and graphic artist, master of portraits and cityscape. Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts (the painting department, 2013), member of the Russian Artistic Union of Painters (1995), Moscow artists' association of International Art Fund, Union of Russian Artists.
The artist works in portrait genre, historical and philosophical picture, actively promotes watercolor painting. According to critics he works in contemporary art style at the interface of academism. Artists’ artworks are in the collections of famous museums – the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (Moscow) and the State Russian Museum (Saint Petersburg).
In his paintings the artist turns objects and subjects of the real world into works of art which is an indisputable evidence of his talent, high level of professional skills and mastery. Rather than cloning the real world, Esionov uses no optical devices, film or photo cameras to create a new reality relying only on purely artistic means. Esionov’s imaginary compositions and creative stylistic peculiarities visualize harmony of reality and imagination that inspires associative perception and imagination.
Biography
Andrey Esionov was born on November 30, 1963 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In 1981 he graduated from Republic Music and Art Board School with a degree in Professional Graphic Artistry. Then he got admitted to Tashkent National University of Art and Theater named after A. Ostrovskiy, where he received an academic degree in Stationary Art.
Andrey Esionov received several awards:
- Gold Medal awarded by Russian Academy of Arts;
- Silver Medal awarded by Russian Artistic Union of Painters (RAUP);
- winner of Sixth International Moscow Festival of Arts “Traditions and Modernism” in the category of Arts.
... a quarter of a century ago Esionov moved to Moscow from Tashkent, which in Soviet times had a powerhouse of an art school; the Tashkent Institute offered excellent and independent education, a rare occurrence in the Soviet Union. What was it, the heritage of such outstanding Russian settlers as Alexander Volkov, or the very presence in Central Asia of remarkable, cutting-edge works of Russian modern art that created this unique atmosphere? Today, some of the “graduates” of the Tashkent art school work here in Moscow; they share a certain distinctive character, conduct themselves independently and have the stubborn gift of perseverance.
One could say that Andrey Esionov is like that. Moscow did not nurture him; nobody showered him with kindness or made sure he had a chance to exhibit; no one assured his position in professional associations. In 2013 he showed his work at the Academy of Arts, but, surprisingly, did not learn that much about this large, fragmented community of renowned, obscure, gifted and other kinds of artists. He knows a few names of Moscow artists and he respects and values some of them; however, his understanding of their work, their lives, their background and related legends is profoundly rudimentary. It is possible that he is not really that interested in our “local talent” and our local art scene, also known as “our local social myth”. He is prepared to carefully examine us and adopt some of our ways, because he is a good learner and knows how to absorb information; however, he does so from a certain distance. He is very much on his own. He has established himself on our Moscow soil, but seems to be also rooted in other formations of world art culture.
Esionov’s case is mystifying and calls for special research. Can artists show up from nowhere, can they really exist in isolation? Usually, they hang out with their own kind (no matter how narrow their circle may be), they teach in schools and universities, they meet with journalists and come to presentations and discussions. They make friends and enemies; they compete with one another, marry within their circle and do their best to replenish the population. They are all different, but one can always distinguish those that are from Moscow. Esionov has never been one of us. It is safe to say that he has never become fully “our guy”.
Over the last five years, Esionov has established himself as an artist who lives in Moscow and can paint well, both winning city scenes and portraits of its distinguished citizens. There is no record as to what kind of artist Esionov was before that. Two or three of his early works, painted when he was a student in Tashkent, are preserved at his Moscow studio. These are the fresh and robust works of a beginner; filled with sun and zest, they tell us about life deep in the heart of Asia. They were followed by close to 20 years when the young artist stopped painting altogether and engaged in entirely different activities. Those were the years when university professors became taxi drivers, liberal arts majors went into business, and artists experienced transformations that were no less extreme. Not all of those who were swept up by the winds of perestroika would later go back to what they were meant to do – and what they were trained to do. Esionov returned to painting and drawing after 20 years, so his late debut (in Moscow, in the years after 2010) was even more remarkable and unusual...— Alexander Yakimovich, Doctor of Arts, academician of Russian Academy of Arts
Personal exhibitions
- “Moscow and Muscovites”, halls of the Russian Academy of Arts (2013);
- “Moscou et moscovites”, Artspace Galleries-Art Galleries Europe, Paris (2013);
- Personal exhibition within the Year of culture in Russia by Ministry of Regional Development in gallery of the Ministry, Moscow (2014);
- “From A to Z in artist’s space” in Zurab Tsereteli’s Art Gallery, Moscow (2014);
- “Reflections in colored water” in the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (2016);
- “Reflection” in the Stroganov Palace, the State Russian Museum (2016).
Notable artworks
- Watercolor