Andre Smirnov
Andre Smirnov
1965-Present
Andre Smirnov was born in Moscow in 1965. In 1981 Andre participated in his first exhibition. He began his art studies at the Moscow School of Arts and Crafts from 1982-1983. Then from 1983 to 1985, he served in the Soviet Army. Following this service, he worked as an art decorator in the Orombo Factory. In 1988, he finished the Special Art School SPTU-75 and worked as a craftsman in the Surikov Institute. From 1989 to 1992 he worked as a teaching assistant at the Surikov Institute. In 1992, he was accepted as a student in the Surikov Institute where he studied under V.N. Zabelin. He graduated from the Surikov in 1998. From 1998 to 2004 he worked as a teacher in the Memory of the Year 1905 Moscow Academic Art College, named after the 1905 revolution in Moscow. In 1999, Smirnov was accepted into the Academy of Art Studio, to study under the Tkachev brothers. He was also awarded the coveted Tkachev Brothers Scholarship, which included a living stipend and large studio space. This scholarship is granted to only 4 of Russias most talented young artists, once every 3 years. Its purpose is to allow the artists living expenses so they can concentrate on large major works. Andre Smirnov lives and works today in Moscow, Russia.
Exhibitions partial list
Awards:(partial list)
Certificate of Merit of the Russian Heroes Foundation, (for making a series of portraits for the Museum of the Heroes of Russia), 2005
Honorary Diploma of the Academy of Arts, 2004
Member of the Moscow Artists Union
Member of the Moscow Painters' Union
Member of the Russian Federation Union of Artists
Tkachev Brothers Scholarship, 1999
Exhibitions:(partial list)
Andre Smirnov regularly participates in national exhibitions and the exhibitions of the Artists Union at Kuznetskiy Most, Moscow
1981-1989, Annual exhibitions with the Novator Group
1992, Ecology and the World exhibition at the Kunetsky Exhibition Hall
1992, Moscow Union of Artists Exhibition
1992 & 1994, Gorohovets Exhibitions
1993-1995, Student exhibitions at the Surikov Institute
1996, Group Exhibition in Basel, Switzerland
1997, Group Exhibition at the Skriabin, A.N. Museum in Moscow
1998, Easter Exhibition
1998 & 1999, Autumn Exhibition and Young Artist Exhibition
1998, 1999, & 2000, Portrait and Flowers Exhibition
1998-2001, Young Painters exhibition of MOSH
1999, Group Exhibition at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
2001, Group Exhibition, Young Painters of Russia, Moscow
Collections:(partial list)
His works can be found in private collections in Russia, Great Britain, Sweden, and the USA
Auctions:(partial list)
2006 SOVCOM, Moscow, Russia, Smirnov's works are regularly featured at SOVCOM art auctions with his high price reaching $48,000 in 2006 for his painting Peter I
Artist Thoughts:
"I think artists can be divided into two categories: One thinks God is the Creator and tries to understand nature, and the other thinks they are the creator and tries to develop their own form, nature, and laws. I think realists are in the first category. The second category of painters is not realist painters.
I find realism the only healthy art. For me, it is a conception. I have been influenced by artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Velasquez, Repin, Serov, Kramskoy, Levitan, Matejko, Munkatchi, and Sargent."