ANDREY NOVIKOV

Andrey Novikov (Andrei Novikov) was born in 1985 and raised in the south of Russia within an artistic family. He earned a master's degree in graphic design from NCFU in Pyatigorsk. Following his formal education, he engaged in work as a designer, illustrator, and concurrently served as a university educator. Starting as a lecturer's assistant in his teaching career, he gradually ascended over a decade to the position of lead lecturer. Throughout his life, he clung to his dream of professionally pursuing painting.

In 2017, he made the momentous decision to depart from his roles as a lecturer and designer, dedicating his undivided attention to the world of art. By 2018, an invitation materialized for a solo exhibition at Erarta Museum, Russia's preeminent private museum of contemporary art. There, he successfully unveiled his inaugural significant painting project, "Sunstroke," contemplation on societal apathy juxtaposed against the backdrop of an impending catastrophe. Unfortunately, the project proved eerily prophetic.

Andrey positions himself as a figurative meta-modern artist. Art, for him, is a form of cognition. Starting with projects addressing social issues in his native society, Andrey gradually begins to contemplate global questions.

In 2022, at the zenith of his artistic journey and grappling with profound moral disquiet stemming from Russia's unfettered war in Ukraine, Andrey resolved to leave his homeland. The project "Cultural Layer," created simultaneously with the onset of the war in Ukraine and possibly one of the last free projects exhibited in a major Russian museum, marked a turning point. His reflections on societal indifference in the initial artistic project "Solar Strike" transformed into a vivid depiction of catastrophic consequences. With broad attention in the cultural sphere of Russia during that period, it can be said that the "Cultural Layer" project served as a manifesto of protest and self-expression that society could afford in the summer of 2022.

Relocating to Istanbul, he sought to reassess the tumultuous events in his native land by delving into Istanbul's rich historical tapestry. Life along the shores of the Bosphorus bestowed invaluable experiences and inspiration upon Andrey Novikov. The city's historical legacy and the ethereal remnants of bygone civilizations convinced him that Istanbul existed within its own distinct reality. This transformative year bore fruit in the creation and exhibition of major projects: "Cultural Layer", "Refraction", "Fog" and "Civilization". In total there were around 100 artworks, and at least 2/3 of them were sold during exhibitions in 2022-2023.

Due to his diligence and dedication to his craft, Andrey has secured several contracts with various galleries in Istanbul, Moscow, and Berlin. The sincerity, depth, and thoughtfulness with which Andrey approaches his work have earned him a reputation as a philosophical artist.

In 2023, Andrey Novikov received a compelling offer from the Ministry of Culture of the United Kingdom, prompting his relocation to the United Kingdom under the auspices of a Talent Visa. From that moment Andrey Novikov lives and works in Reading, UK.