Artem Mirolevich

This week we welcome Artem Mirolevich, who was born in 1976 in Minsk, Belarus.  At the age of 17, Artem and his family moved to the United States.  Soon after, Mirolevich enrolled in the School of Visual Art, in New York City, and was granted a full scholarship from the Department of Illustration.  One of his greatest inspirations during his four years as a student was a semester spent in Amsterdam at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.  Intrigued by the city’s cultural and architectural landscape, he used this inspiration to produce numerous works, including images of a post-apocalyptic city submerged deep under water.  Invigorated by his experience abroad, he was drawn to the idea of exploring other countries. He traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  These experiences shaped his artistic vision of the world. 

Mirolevich has had over 100 gallery, art-fair and museum exhibits in the U.S., Europe and Russia including the New Museum, the Neuberger Museum of Art, the Chelsea Art Museum and the Museum of Russian Art, in Minnesota. He is a founder and curator of Artemiro Gallery, which showcases emerging and established artists from Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Baltic region during leading international art fairs.   Mirolevich is a recipient of numerous art grants and awards including a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, a New York State Council on the Arts grant, the Illustrator of the Future Award, and many others.     

Paintings, etching, sculptures and collages created with the juxtaposition of various mediums are the means of Mirolevich’s artistic expression.   He creates a new world within each frame.  His paintings are depictions of ancient civilizations, philosophy, present society, and also what he envisions for the future.  Each picture tells a story; the movement of the story is carried throughout the piece by the movement of the characters.  The personality and emotion of these figures is communicated through facial expressions and actions.  They range from heroes and villains to ordinary men and even mythological creatures.  His tales include appearances from dwellers of Babylon, the lost soldiers of Alexander the Great, Einstein, samurai warriors, urban legends, time travelers, and scientists of subterranean worlds.    When words alone cannot describe what he envisions in his mind, it is through his artwork that he finds a means of visual language and communication.

“My passion for etching started in 1998 while studying in Amsterdam. The process of etching captivated me, and I was inspired by classical masters such as Piranesi, Doré, Dürer, and Rembrandt, as well as contemporary artists like Brodsky & Utkin. In 2001, I had my first solo exhibition and met the artist Mary Westring, who mentored me until 2007. Etching is labor-intensive but empowering, allowing for a broad spectrum of goals. My work is inspired by films, literature, history, exploration, and philosophy, and I have created art for various media, including book covers, magazines, newspapers, Broadway posters, album covers, and book illustrations. I am constantly pushing boundaries to create meaningful, thought-provoking art.”

See more of Mirolevich’s work on his website and Instagram page.