Artists

Serge Poliakoff

Press release

Everything I want to paint is a divine image,
and I must be in this image, near it, with it,
elevating myself toward it to become part of it.
(Serge Poliakoff)

Poliakoff conceived of art as a world of God. He moved to France 100 years ago, in 1923, and lived most of his life there. The artist once reflected, “If I hadn’t come to Paris, perhaps I would not be a painter.” Kandinsky, who was also from Russia, recognized Poliakoff’s talent and recommended his work to gallerists. In 1962, Poliakoff represented France at the Venice Biennale.

He was a contemplative artist. Three major influences had a lasting effect on him: Byzantine art, Italian painting from the time of Giotto, and Russian icons. “As a child, I was impressed by the beauty of the icons in Russian churches, and this impression stayed with me. I kept traces of it in my art,” the painter recalled.