The Russian Academy Of Arts

The Russian Academy of Arts presents a major solo show of work by Sergei Oleshnya, the Honored Artist of Russia, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Professor of the Teachers’ Training Institute of the Southern Federal University produced by the sculptor in the 1980s – 2000s. These are portraits of his contemporaries and historical personalities, compositions on historical themes, genre scenes, nudes.

Sergei Oleshnya was born in 1955. After graduating from K. Savitsky Art College in Penza, Sergei Oleshnya continued his professional education in the fine arts department at the Rostov State University. He is known as a master of easel and monumental sculptures executed in bronze, wood and stone. Sergei Oleshnya is an author of a monument to Empress Elizabeth in Rostov-on-the Don, a sculptural group “Founders and Constructors of St. Dimitry of Rostov Fortress” and many other works devoted to the history of Russia including sculptural images of Atamans of the Don Cossacks Platov and Danila Efremov, military engineer A.I. Riegelman and others.

The main subject-matter in his works is Russian land, its people and traditions. In his favorite portrait genre the sculptor creates stirring and impressive images of his models, gives way to his fantasy resulting in poetic metaphors such as his sculpture Madonna of the Don executed on the motifs of Scythian plastic art.

The exposition also includes works by his wife – Rostov-on-the Don painter Larisa Ushakova whose landscapes and still lifes full of love of the generous and lavish nature of the south of Russia are perfectly consonant with the works by Sergei Oleshnya.

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