Mihail Chemiakin

Mihail Chemiakin was born in Moscow in 1943 into a military family. He spent his formative years with his father in East Germany before returning to the Soviet Union in 1957, where he began studying at the secondary school affiliated with the Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in Leningrad. His incredible talent and hunger for innovation soon led him to challenge the Soviet establishment, resulting in mandatory psychiatric treatment for holding ideals that did not conform to official doctrine.
Chemiakin proved unconventional from the start of his career. He initiated an exhibition that caused his museum director to be fired and wrote an artistic manifesto entitled “Metaphysical Synthesism” in 1967. His nonconformity eventually led to his exile from the Soviet Union in 1971.
Settling in Paris that same year, Chemiakin found European collectors already familiar with his unique imagery. There he produced his celebrated “Carnival at St. Petersburg” and “Metaphysical Series,” demonstrating his mastery of color and form. In 1981, he moved to New York where he continued creating art while also working in film and theater set design, along with public sculpture. Today, Chemiakin is represented by Park West Gallery, where collectors appreciate his distinctive vision and artistic courage.