Awakening

Igor Smirnov (b. 1952), son of renowned Russian landscape painter Vasily Smirnov, began drawing at a very young age. Over time, he developed his own unique style of 'symbolic realism', which has nothing in common with socialist realism nor the many avant-garde 'isms' of the 20th century. The artist views a work of art as a source of information presented in symbolic form, which modern audiences associate with the virtual space of our spiritual lives. Smirnov's art is founded on a deep understanding of eternal values and the subconscious impact of artistic forms and colors on the human psyche, emotions, and well-being. It evokes positive associations in the viewer and thus enhances the overall spiritual atmosphere. Smirnov's works are recognizable by their distinct structure and color palette, which create the impression of stained glass or enamel and give a sense of mystery. The precise linear structure, which prevents the surface of the painting from turning into color chaos, contributes to this effect. The confidence and boldness of his lines are reminiscent of Picasso's works between 1910 and 1920, but the resemblance to the famous cubist ends there. Smirnov is not interested in the analytical dissection of objects. On the contrary, his method is the opposite: the merging of forms, not their destruction—harmony, not dissonance. People, animals, birds, fish, fruits, flowers, works of art—all are united by the beauty of Smirnov's harmonious, fantastical world, which reveals itself as the embodiment of music in lines and colors. ("Between the Instant and Eternity: The Art of Igor Smirnov," Irina Alievskaya and Rina Judens, Authorhouse, USA, 2006). Smirnov began his artistic career at the College of Fine Arts. He later earned a master's degree in engineering and design at the Naval Academy, where his profound artistic talent was enriched by knowledge of geometric forms and proportions. He then worked for two years restoring invaluable icons and paintings at the Russian Museum of Art and the Museum of Urban Sculpture in St. Petersburg. From the early 1980s, he participated in the nonconformist or 'underground' art movement in Russia. Smirnov's works were presented at the most prominent 'underground' exhibitions in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Germany from 1982 to 1988. Igor Smirnov's works drew the attention of John Whitehead, US Deputy Secretary of State, during his visit to Moscow in December 1987 as part of preparations for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit. At Mr. Whitehead's personal request to the Soviet Foreign Minister Shevardnadze, Soviet authorities permitted Igor Smirnov to emigrate to the United States. The artist settled enjoyably in California, taking inspiration from the new environment. Since then, Smirnov has received worldwide recognition for his paintings, exhibited in museums and galleries in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Russia. His works are in the collections of the CASE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART in New Jersey and Paris; the FUNDS OF RUSSIAN CONTEMPORARY ART in Munich; ART BRILLANT CO. LTD. in Tokyo; the MUSEUM OF DOSTOEVSKY in St. Petersburg; CHEVRON INC.; the MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY in California; and many others. His exhibitions at ARTEXPO NEW YORK and ARTEXPO CALIFORNIA, ART BRILLANT expositions in Japan and Europe, the GALERIE MICHELANGELO at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, SUNJIN GALLERY in Singapore, GALERIE GEORGE INTERNATIONAL, and TIMMONS GALLERY in California have unveiled the exciting works of this talented artist. The monograph "Between Moment and Eternity: The Art of Igor Smirnov," written by art historians Irina Alievskaya (M.Sc.) and Rina Judens (Ph.D.), was published in early 2006. The monograph has been accepted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Hammer Museum, Guggenheim Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Art, and San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art. Solo Exhibits: 2018 ANTONIJA Gallery, Riga, Latvia. Selected Group Shows: 2018, ART RIGA FAIR 2018. 2006 TIMMONS Gallery, Rancho Santa Fe, California 2005 Galerie GEORGE International, San Clemente, California 2003 SUNJIN Gallery, Singapore 2000 GALERIE MICHELANGELO in Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas 1997 JAN Galleria, La Jolla, California; ART SELLERS, Inc., San Juan Capistrano, California; ART ENTERPRISE Gallery, Las Vegas, Nevada 1996 ART BRILLANT, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 1995 ART BRILLANT, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 1993 GAIL ROFF Fine Art, Seal Beach, California 1992 ARTEXPO CAL'92, Los Angeles, California 1991 ARTEXPO CAL'91, Los Angeles, California 1990 ARTEXPO CAL'90, Los Angeles, California 1988 LA CHAISE Gallery, Beverly Hills, California Selected Group Shows: 2016 San Diego Art Expo, November 2015 Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art, April 2013 Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art, September 2013 2008 OSTROV EXPO, Union of Russian Artists, St. Petersburg, Russia; ARTEXPO New York'08, New York 2005-06 TIMMONS Gallery, Rancho Santa Fe, California 2004 Galerie MICHELANGELO in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada 2003 MARSHALL Gallery, Laguna Beach, California 2001 GALERIE MICHELANGELO in Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada 1999 ARTEXPO NEW YORK'99, New York; WENTWORTH Galleries, Miami, Florida 1998 JAN Galleria, La Jolla, California 1997 ART BRILLANT Gallery, Beverly Hills, California 1995-96 COLLECTORS EDITIONS, Inc., Los Angeles, California 1995 ARTEXPO NEW YORK'95, New York 1994 ARTEXPO CAL'94, Las Vegas, Nevada 1991-94 GAIL ROFF Fine Art, Seal Beach, California 1991 SUNSET Galleries, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii; FRANKLIN Gallery of Art, Sacramento, California; CORNERSTONE Galleries, Beverly Hills, California; PRINT MERCHANTS in Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, California 1990 ROSOVSKY Gallery, Laguna Beach, California 1989 UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France; FUND OF RUSSIAN CONTEMPORARY ART, Munich and Frankfurt, Germany 1982-87 Major 'Underground Art' Shows in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia