Vladimir Shestakov

The stunning paintings of Vladimir Shestakov are even more spectacular and vibrant than the sum of their component parts, which include a mix Fauvist hues, Expressionistic brushstrokes, Cubist perspectives and Symbolist subjects. Trained in his native Russia, he now splits his time between St. Petersburg, artistic and intellectual Paris, and the South of France, and the brilliant Mediterranean sun exerts an unmistakable influence on his aesthetic. Each canvas spills over with bold, saturated colors that evoke the neon colors of graffiti and the sumptuous patterns of carnival costumes.

Indeed, many of Shestakov’s acrylic and mixed media paintings portray colorful street fairs and performances, mysterious allegorical figures that resemble harlequins, jesters, bullfighters, actors and dancers. This combination of a bright, boisterous palette and a rotating cast of colorful players lends each painting the air of some mysterious effervescent celebration. Peering into these scenes of jubilant merriment, Shestakov creates an inviting and infectious mood of possibility, optimism and euphoria. Looking at his canvases, viewers become figures in the procession of colors and characters.