Oil on canvas, 1985, signed and dated at lower right, also signed and dated on the backing sheet, presented in a gilt floater frame with linen liner.

Stretcher size 42 x 42 in.; Frame dimensions 48 1/4 x 48 in.

Private Collection, Napa Valley, California; Boston, Massachusetts; and Raleigh, North Carolina

Bowles/Hopkins Gallery, San Francisco, California

Mihail Chemiakin, born on May 4, 1943, in Moscow, is a Russian-American artist renowned for his contributions to painting, sculpture, and stage design. His early life was marked by a military upbringing, with his father, Mikhail Kardanov, serving as a Soviet Army officer. Chemiakin's artistic journey began at the Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in Leningrad, where he studied from 1957 to 1961. However, his nonconformist views led to his expulsion and subsequent mandatory psychiatric treatment, as his ideals did not align with Soviet norms.

In 1967, Chemiakin founded the St. Petersburg Group of artists and developed the philosophy of Metaphysical Synthesism, aiming to create new forms of icon painting by studying religious art across various cultures and eras. His innovative approach and defiance of artistic conventions resulted in his exile from the Soviet Union in 1971. He settled first in France and later moved to New York in 1980. Throughout his career, Chemiakin has produced a diverse body of work, including the notable sculpture "Children - Victims of the Sins of Adults," installed in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square in 2001. His art continues to challenge and inspire, reflecting a deep engagement with cultural and philosophical themes.

This lot is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the Bowles/Hopkins Gallery and signed by Serge Sorokko. A copy of Chemiakin: 2 Transformation New York Period published by Mosaic Press in 1985 is also included with the lot.

Good estate condition.