Artist Features
Georgian Wonder
I have already posted an article on Contemporary Georgian artists. But it seems like every week I discover one more amazing Georgian artist doing things in repoussé, wood, stone, enamel or mosaic that very few are able to equal in quality and especially in vivacity. Vivacity is really the world to use, an art that is confident and…
Continue reading »ARCHIMANDRITE ZENON (THEODOR): His Life and Work
I am not given to adulation: it places too heavy a burden of expectation on the unfortunate recipient, and often hinders the adorer. But I must confess I border on adulation for the works of the contemporary Russian iconographer and fresco painter, Archimandrite Zenon (Teodor) Every once in a while an iconographer appears who is…
Continue reading »The Carved Icons of Elena and Sergio Nikolenko
I was recently made aware of two wonderful Russian carvers named Elena and Sergio Nikolenko. Their work is quite impressive, using ornament with spectacular precision. Their stylisation of faces ranges from the more iconic to more realistic features depending on pieces. The couple work on their icons together, with Elena being the designer and the one…
Continue reading »“The Icon is Making its Way in America”, an interview with Ksenia Pokrovsky
The life of Ksenia Pokrovsky (March 9, 1942-July 7, 2013) touched thousands of people from nearly every part of the world. Here are excerpts from an interview taken by Irina Yazikova in 2009 for an Italian magazine. Yazikova is a noted art historian and author of many books about iconography, including “Hidden and Triumphant: The…
Continue reading »Fr.Silouan Justiniano – Returning to Puerto Rico With Icons
Fr. Silouan Justiniano, who is a native of Puerto Rico, was recently invited to return to the island to show his art, both his earlier work and his icons in the city of San German with the Universidad Inter-Americana. Fr. Silouan received a Masters in Fine Arts from Hunter College New York City as well…
Continue reading »Interview With Russian Enamelist Evgeny Baranov
(A few months ago I posted some magnificent enamel icons by Russian artist Evgeny Baranov. So impressed was I at his skill that I asked him if he would accept to do an interview for us. What came out of this interview is not only his personal story as an artist, which is fascinating, but also…
Continue reading »The Amber Icons of Alexander Krylov
Alexander Krylov is a Russian master of amber. For several years he worked with a few others to recreate the famous “amber room”, the gift of the Prussian king to Peter the Great in the 18th century. It was known as “the eight wonder of the world”, but was looted by the Nazis during the…
Continue reading »Russian Master Icon Carvers
Rashid and Inessa Azbuhanov are a Russian couple who are leading the rediscovery of icon carving in the Russian Church. Their works grace the collections of Russian politicians from Gorbachev to Putin, European royal families and church authorities from the Russian Patriarch to the Pope of Rome. Their works are often large and highly detailed, like wooden lace as…
Continue reading »Miniature Icons by Evgeny Baranov
Here are some of the most astounding miniature icons I have seen. They are made by a Russian artisan named Evgeny Baranov who is also a very good goldsmith as you will see below. These pictures were taken from his facebook page. I have been trying to get a short interview with some more details, and…
Continue reading »Icons from Shells
Here is a surprising video from a Georgian news website of an Archpriest who uses seashells to create decorative images but also icons. His images are quite “folk” in appearance and composition and the iconography is obviously rather simple as the shells prevent too much detail. This priest seems quite comfortable as he is shown…
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