I first met Philip in his Studio in Vyner Street, East London. He was running a life drawing class where the life model’s acted out a card from the tarot deck. Immediately I became overwhelmed by the sheer scale of his work.
” I decided to become an artist when I came to England at the age of 6 . I am inspired by Blake, Rubens, El Greco, Tintoretto, greek sculpture, and Picasso. My imagery speaks of an exodus of people from Russia and about how ancient history players part of today’s modern world. I trained with Russians English and Italian artists and have done a BA at Slade and MA at princes drawing school! I learned traditional techniques and strongly believe they are essential for good art. I am mostly uninspired by the contemporary art scene and prefer cinema as a reference point for contemporary culture. ”
I make paintings, sculptures and films most of which end up looking like scattered fragments of a lost theatrical machine. They are based on musical instruments and characters I met on my many travels around Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. Here is a review-24-Hour Museum and Timeout: “Man or Iron: sculpture exhibition at The Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe (June – September 2007).”From the industrial debris of east London, Russian-born Philip Firsov creates a savage hymn to engineering and art. Men are machines, women are musical monsters and butcher’s slabs turn into people. These sad and vicious pieces owe as much to Dalston market as they do to Gogol and Baba Yaga His work draws on the folklore and musical heritage of Eastern Europe.”
Philip Firsov (b. 8 April 1985, Moscow) — British painter and sculptor of Russian origin. Born in Moscow in the family of two Russian composers Elena Firsova and Dmitri Smirnov, he left Russia in the age of 6. The family settled in England. From the age of 15 he studied art privately with Russian Artist and Restorer Alexander Kolesnik, and then continued his education in Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Foundation, Slade School of Fine Art, BA in Fine Art, and Prince’s Drawing School, Post Graduate Scheme.
Education
- 2008-2009: Prince’s Drawing School, Post Graduate Scheme
- 2007: Artist in Residence, Cucuteni Symposium “Human”, Iasi, Romania; Diploma of Excellence
- 2007: Painting Symposium, Campina, Romania; Diploma of Excellence
- 2004-2008: Slade School of Fine Art, BA in Fine Art
- 2003-2004: Central Saint Martin’s, Foundation
- 2000-2005: Privately studied Atelier of Russian Artist and Restorer, Alexander Kolesnik, Acme Studios, Deptford
Solo exhibitions
- 2013 26th November – 1st December. “Entwined” The Crypt Gallery St Pancras New Church, Euston Rd NW1 London
- 2012 October Solo exhibition, Nati Gallery, Warren Street London W1T 5LU
- 2012 Februaery Philip Firsov and Phoebe Cope. TwentyTwo to TwentySix. London
- 2011: 9–18 May “My Russia ReDrawn” – Solo Exhibition at Frameless Gallery, 20 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
- 2010: October/November “Exodus” — Solo Exhibition at Frameless Gallery, 20 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
- 2010: October Solo Exhibition in Supperclub Aclam Rd Portobello
- 2007: Exhibition of Cupola Gallery, Iasi, Romania
- 2007: Exhibition of sculptures and films, Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe, London
- 2006: Artist in Residence, Dartington Summer Music Festival (Devon), Shipon Gallery
- 2006: Artist in Residence, Oxford Contemporary Music Festival, Jacqueline du Pré music Building, St. Hilda’s College, Oxford
- 2005: Cheltenham Triptych of Paintings, The Pitville Pump Room, Cheltenham Music Festival, Cheltenham
- 2005: Sculpture Installation, Window Gallery Central Saint Martin’s, Charing Cross Road, London
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2011: November. Hanover Music Society. Exhibition of 3 paintings on Kubla Khan. Projection of works on Music Stage during the concert.
- 2011: October, Group Show Assisi Galleria Comunale. Contemporary Art Residency Ginestrelle. Sculpture of St Francis (in wood).
- 2010: June–August, Summer Contemporary, Fulham Art Fair by Salon Art Bizarre in association with Unique Art Gallery on 595 King’s Road.
- 2010: 7–21 June, Art Exhibition ’20 years of Russians in Britain’, Europa Gallery, Sutton Library, St.Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1EA
- 2008: Dialects: Part 1, Pushkin House (Russian Cultural Centre), Bloomsbury Way
- 2008: Paintings in Association with Salon Russe, Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe, London
- 2008: Russian Winter Season, 54 Gallery, Mayfair, London
- 2008: Paintings, Sculptures and Films at MC Motors, Dalston
- 2007: Film screenings Melange Social Club, Hackney, London
