Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
Yuri Vasiliev was born in 1950, in St.-Petersburg (Leningrad) in family of the artist.
He received his diploma of academy of Fine Arts of St.-Petersburg (Institute after I.E.Repin). His field of study was engraving, but the spectrum of his artistic practice is much wider: he paints in oils, acryl and especially loves watercolor paintings. Among various themes of works the main topics are lyrical, epical and thematic landscapes with the elements of architecture and ethnography.
Yuri lives in Northern Russia and for this reason his art has two favorite themes - the North and the Sea. However, for Yuri the North is more than only a geographical concept. His far ancestors were seamen from Arkhangelsk, his great-grandfather was an admiral of a fleet and has sailed through all the seas. Yuri has been born into a family of artists and this, combined with the traditional passion for the Sea, gave him his poetic perception of the North.
Yuri Vasiliev travels a lot, but the strongest impression came from his journey to Lofoten, northern Norway. His work and vision of the Northern Lands was influenced a lot by living and working in the nature, meeting artists and experiencing their original style of a life. This inspired him to create over 30 watercolor paintings which he has exhibited in Russia, Finland, France, Germany and Poland.
Other part of his artistic potential derives from the curiosity for the history and culture of Western Europe. Russians say: “The one who does not know the past - has no future”, and through the characters of his paintings – wanderers, beggars, minstrels and musicians - Yuri projects himself and his traveling experiences. The color pallets of Provence, north Italian landscapes or the Alpine slopes encourage the artist to express his color predilections. Every year this series replenishes with new images.
Last years Yuri Vasiliev has made many artistic travels across western Europe. The organization and carrying out of seminars and “plein-air” (outdoors) painting sessions in cities of northern Germany became a prominent element of his professional activity. With a group of artists – friends and like-minded colleagues they arranged numerous master-classes, workshops and exhibitions in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Yuri Vasiliev is a member of: The union of artists of Russia, Associations of critics, Societies of aquarellists of St.-Petersburg, Societies of artists-marine painters of St.-Petersburg.
Selected group exhibitions:
1971 - Exhibition hall of the mayoralty Prague, Czechoslovakia.
1980 - Exhibition hall of the Union of artists of Moldova, Kishinev.
1992 - “Russian Watercolors”, Oslo, Denmark.
1991 - “Science Can Be Art”, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, National Exhibition,
Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
1993 - “S.Peterburg Art”, Exhibition hall of Baden-Würtenberg, Stuttgart, Germany.
1995 - International exhibition of animal painters, Hibel Museum оf Art, Florida, the USA.
1998 - “Russian Water colors”, the Museum of a water color, Mexico City, Mexico.
2000 - “The Russian-Mexican exhibition of a watercolor” , Main Exhibition hall, St. Petersburg.
2000 - “Moscow - Petersburg “, St. Petersburg, Main Exhibition hall.
2002 - “50 years of studio of artists of marine painters” , Main Navy museum St. Petersburg.
2002 - Festival of art of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Normandy, France.
2002 - “Russia X “, Main Exhibition hall, Moscow.
2004 - “The German province in the pictures of the St. Petersburgian artists” ,
Vladimir Nabokov museum, St.Peterburg.
2005 - “The Art-bridge”, watercolor paintings , Main Exhibition hall, St. Petersburg.
2005 - 2-nd Biennial of a pastel, the exhibition center of Union of artists, St. Petersburg.
2005 - “Mühlenmuseum”, Woldegk, Germany.
2006 - “The World of the childhood”, exhibition hall museum of water, St. Petersburg.
2007 - “From a masquerade to parade”, city sculpture museum, St. Petersburg.
2008 - “75 year the Union of artists“, Main Exhibition hall, St. Petersburg.
2008 - “H2O”, watercolor paintings, Union of artists, St. Petersburg.
2009 - “Russia XI “, Main Exhibition hall, Moscow.
Solo exhibitions:
1985 - Club “Majak”, St. Petersburg.
1985 - Cinema ”Hudozestveny”, St. Petersburg.
1985 - Club Izora fabric, Kolpino, St. Petersburg
1992 - Big Exhibition hall, Okhta, St. Petersburg.
1992 - The Moscow district Exhibition hall, St. Petersburg.
1993 - The Gallery “Feodor”, Sestroretsk, St. Petersburg
1993 - The Cultural Center in Svolvaer, Northern Norway.
1995 - The Center of the Russian Science and Culture, Helsinki, Finland.
1996 - Festival “St.Petersburg's Art”, Szczecin, Poland.
1996 - Gallery “Art “, Zielona Gora, Poland.
1996 - The Center of the Russian Science and Culture, Helsinki, Finland.
1998 - Theatre “L'Atalant “, Paris, France.
1999 - Gallery “Yutny dom” S.Petersburg.
1999 - Gallery “Dessertene”, Paris, France.
2000 - The Exhibition Center of the Union of Artists of St. Petersburg.
2001 - The Russian-French House, Nice, France.
2002 - City museum, Penkun, Germany.
2003 - Gallery “Na Bastionnoi”, Pskov city
2003 - The Historical - architecturally-art museum, Kronstadt, St. Petersburg
2003 - St. Marienkirhe, Pasevalk, Germany.
2006 - “Presence”, exhibition hall of the Moscow district St. Petersburg.
2007 - “Konstance Bank”, St. Petersburg.
2007 - Queen Louise Museum, Hohenziritz, Germany.
2007 - Johanneskirche gallery, Malchin, Germany.
2008 - “XXI Art a forum Castle Aihhofen“, Regensburg, Germany.
Collections:
- Museum of fine arts Academy, St. Petersburg
- The Museum of history of St. Petersburg.
- The State Public library, St. Petersburg
- The Central Navy Museum, St. Petersburg
- The State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
- Pomorian library, Szczecin, Poland.
- The Museum of Political history of Russia, St. Petersburg
- The Museum “Mikhailovskoe”, Pushkinskie gory
- Culture committee, St. Petersburg
- Culture Ministry of Russia, Moscow
- City Museum, Penkun, Germany
- Picture gallery Kirishi city
- City Historical Architecturally-art museum, Kronstadt, St. Petersburg
- History-art museum of the family Benua.
- History-art museum, city Strasburg (Uckermark), Germany
- “Mühlenmuseum”, Woldegk, Germany
- Queen Louise Museum, Hohenziritz, Germany
- Order of knights “Der Griff”
- Family of dukes Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany
Grants:
1980 - Grant Union of artists USSR for travel and work in Moldova
1983 - Grant from Main Navy museum for travel and work at Barentz sea.
1990 - Grant Union of artists of Russia for travel and work in Turkmenia
1993 - Residency at the North-Norwegian Center of Arts (Svolvaer)
2008 - Grant “XXI Art forum Castle Aihhofen” Regensburg, Germany