Artist, architect.
Born on June 29, 1945 in Yekaterinburg. Lives and works in Moscow.
Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts (Department of Architecture, 2009).
Education: Moscow Architectural Institute (1969).
Professional activity: Architect at "Mosproekt No.1" in Design Workshop No.12 (1969-1981); chief artist of the Karl Marx and Engels Museum in Moscow (1971-1978); artist-designer at the Decorative and Artistic Design Art Combine (1978-1984); co-founder of the first independent art association in Moscow, M'Ars (1988).
Main projects and works: As part of author teams - design of museum exhibitions for Lenin Museums in Kuybyshev, Kazan, and Frunze, project for the reconstruction of the Central Lenin Museum in Moscow; together with sculptor A. I. Rukavishnikov - monument to L. Yashin at the Dynamo Stadium (1996), sculptural relief for the F. M. Dostoevsky monument in Moscow (1997), monument to A. Samaranch in Luzhniki (2001), monument to Tsar Alexander II (2005), monument dedicated to religious figures – victims of repression in Shuya (2006), monument to Dmitry Donskoy in Kolomna (2007), monument to Tajik poet A. Rudaki in Dushanbe (2008), monument to V. N. Khitrovo, founder of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, in Moscow (2012), monument to S. V. Mikhalkov on Povarskaya Street (2014), 25-meter sculpture of a Gladiator near Spartak Stadium (2014). Participated in the creation of the memorial plaque for Borovik, the memorial plaque for writer L. Leonov, the monument to Army General Govorov, and tombstones for Beskov and Gomelsky.
Author of the series of paintings "Moscow Capriccios," sculptures, and installations. Worked in magazine graphics, book illustration, industrial graphics, and graphic design.
Works are presented in the collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, collections of the MARS Museum, as well as in corporate and private collections in Russia, France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Colombia, Austria, Bolivia, USA, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Romania, England, and many other countries.
Regular participant in exhibitions of the “Twenty Moscow Artists” group (since 1976) and the “ARS” association. In 1989 he held a solo exhibition in London.
Sergey Aleksandrovich Sharov: The Light of Change — Sergey Sharov is a talented Russian artist whose work has marked a new era in art. His creations are distinguished by a deep philosophical undertone and a unique visual style. Born into a simple family, Sergey displayed an extraordinary talent for drawing from an early age. Even in his youth, his paintings amazed viewers with the boldness of his ideas and mastery of technique. After graduating from art school, Sharov moved to Moscow, where his rise to fame began. Early Work Sharov’s first works were notable for their delicate lyricism and philosophical reflections on the human soul. The artist painted captivating portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. His paintings from this period are imbued with both sadness and hope. Gradually, however, Sharov's art developed new features — complex metaphors, symbols, and allegories began to appear. The artist increasingly turned to the theme of humanity’s spiritual quest and the eternal struggle between good and evil. His works acquired a mystical, enigmatic character. Mature Work Sharov gained real recognition thanks to his canvases from the "Moscow" period. Here the artist developed his distinctive, recognizable style, combining realistic depiction with fantastical images. Mysterious figures reminiscent of angels or demons appear in his works, hovering above everyday Moscow cityscapes, creating a sense of unreality. Sharov explored the contrast between the spiritual and the material worlds. Later Work In recent years, Sharov’s painting has taken on features of surrealism. He creates phantasmagoric canvases filled with mysterious symbols and archetypes. His works convey the sensation of a waking dream, where reality intertwines with the otherworldly. At the same time, Sharov maintains a connection with reality. In his paintings one can still discern features of modern Moscow, though in a whimsical, transformed manner. In this way, the artist expresses the idea of the eternal cycle of life. Significance of His Work Over the years, Sergey Sharov has created a unique artistic universe that continues to fascinate and excite viewers. His art has influenced many contemporary painters, inspiring them to search for new forms and images. Sharov showed that art is capable of conveying complex philosophical ideas through visual metaphors and symbols. Thanks to the depth of his thought and originality of style, his legacy has entered the history of Russian culture forever. Evolution of Style Throughout his creative career, Sergey Sharov repeatedly experimented with painting styles. While his early works were characterized by realism and attention to detail, over time his manner became increasingly abstract and symbolic. The evolution of his depiction of the human figure is especially striking. Initially, the characters in Sharov’s paintings were recognizable and individual. Later, their features became blurred, turning into conditional outlines that only faintly suggested the human form. Color Palette Color also plays a crucial role in Sharov’s work. At different stages of his creativity, the artist used radically different color combinations. His early period is marked by muted brown-grey tones, imparting a melancholic mood. In his mature years, contrasting, bright colors emerged, symbolizing the battle of opposites. In his later works, fantastic shades predominate, creating the illusion of a dream. Influence on Followers Many contemporary artists have been influenced, to some degree, by the work of Sergey Sharov. They share an interest in philosophical painting, the combination of realism and mysticism, and the use of metaphors and symbols. At the same time, Sharov’s followers interpret his ideas in new ways, adding elements of their own vision. Thus, the master's legacy continues to live and develop in the works of his students. Artist's Legacy Over several decades of creative activity, Sergey Sharov has created a vast artistic heritage. His works are found in many museum and private collections not only in Russia but also abroad. Personal and group exhibitions of Sharov’s works are regularly held. Albums and monographs dedicated to his life and art are published. The artist’s name is firmly inscribed in the history of 20th-century Russian art. Contribution to Culture Sergey Sharov’s contribution to Russian culture is hard to overestimate. His painting reflected the spiritual quests of the era and humanity’s striving for a deeper understanding of existence. Thanks to his vivid imagery and philosophical richness, Sharov’s works popularized complex ideas, making them accessible to a wide audience. The artist made an invaluable contribution to the development of aesthetic perception in the viewer.
