Gregori Maiofis

(Russian, b. 1970)

Whether dark or playful, Gregori Maiofis' photographic constructions have stories to tell. Using literary, artistic, and historical references as a foundation, Maiofis updates these to present contemporary issues of societal dysfunction, misinterpretation, moral vices, and universal truths. He reminds us that the basic aspects of human nature are timeless and universal.

His technical skills compliment the depth and breadth of his subject matter. In some series the prints are toned or painted. In others he has explored, experimented with, and chosen to use the time consuming, temperamental historical processes used to make Van Dyke and bromoil prints.

Born in 1970 in what was at the time Leningrad, Maiofis was raised among artists. His father Mikael, who was a well-known graphic artist and illustrator, joined his two architect grandparents in encouraging and guiding the boy in his creative talents. After high school Gregori attended Repin Fine Arts Academy in Moscow. There, as was standard during the Soviet regime, he focused on a classical curriculum, drawing and painting from live models and faithfully reproducing the works of Old Masters.

In 1989 his family decided to move to the U.S. and relocated to California two years later. This transition inspired Maiofis to create his first personal body of work. Since that time he has incorporated a contemporary vision into his formal pedagogic training in painting, graphic arts, and drawing. Interestingly, his shift to photographic based work coincided with his decision to return to Russia several years ago.

CHRONOLOGY

1970

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1986

Takes painting and drawing lessons from artist, Ivan Gurin, while still in high school.

1987-1989

Studied at Repin Fine Arts Academy, St Petersburg.

1991

Family arrives in Los Angeles.

1996

Returned to St. Petersburg.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2009

pop/off/art gallery, Moscow, Russia

2009

Proverbs, DNJ Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2009

Barbarian Art Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland

2008

Proverbs, DeSantos Gallery, Houston, TX

2007

Pictures for Interiors, pop/off/art gallery, Moscow, Russia

2007

Ecce Homo Gallery, Nestroyhof, Vienna, Austria

2006

Marina Gisich Gallery, St. Petersburg, Russia

2006

In the Artist's Studio One Work Gallery, Moscow, Russia

2005

De Santos Gallery, Houston, TX

2004

Selected Works Marina Gisich Gallery, St. Petersburg, Russia

2003

Parables, central exhibition hall of Slovak Artists Union, the Month of Photography XIII International Festival of Photography in Bratislava, Slovakia

1999

Amnesia, Art Manege, Moscow, Russia

1999

Painting as Improvisation, Parthenon Museum, Nashville, TN

1998

Vostochnaya Gallery / Seven Hits Gallery, Moscow, Russia

1996

Krymsky Val Gallery, Moscow, Russia

1995

Gallery 21, St. Petersburg, Russia

1993

Metro Arts Commission Gallery, Nashville, TN

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2007

Cornice Art Fair, Venice, Italy

2007

Art Athena, Athens, Greece

2007

Art Moscow, the XI International Art Fair, Moscow, Russia

2007

Photo LA, Los Angeles, CA

2006

WAZZUP?, Fotogalerie, Vienna, Austria

2006

16th Annual Center Awards Exhibition, Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, CA

2006

Moscow Photographic Collections, Gallery n. a. Lumiere Brothers, Moscow, Russia

2006

Quasi/porno, POP/OFF/ART Gallery, Moscow, Russia

2006

Fotofest 2006 Fine Print Auction, the World Art Museum Gallery and the Doubletree Hotel, Houston, TX

2006

Art Moscow, the 10th International Art Fair, Moscow, Russia

2006

No Eyes. Collection Dancing Bear, Musée de L'Elysée, Lausanne, Switzerland

2006

Photo LA, Los Angeles, CA

2005

Collage in Russia. The XX Century, State Russian Museum, St Petersburg, Russia

2005

Sans Regard, or No Eyes: Looking at, Collection Dancing Bear, Arles, France

2004

Art Moscow, the 8th International Art Fair, Moscow, Russia

2003

Photography and Cinema, Autumn Photomaraphon, St Petersburg, Russia

2000

Graphic Art from the Collection of the Irbit Art Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

1998

Art Manege, Moscow, Russia

1997

Filonov Cubed, Art Manege, Moscow, Russia

1996

Artopia Festival, Nashville, TN

1996

200 years of Art in Tennessee, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN

1996

Art Manege, Moscow, Russia

1991

Five Young Artists from Leningrad, ESEC Academy, Paris, France

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2009

Sinsheimer, Karen and Ganahl, Natasha. "Gregori Maiofis". Catalogue to accompany exhibition at Barbarian Art Gallery, Zurich

2002

Gregori Maiofis: Archeology. Williams Bell Publishing, Nashville

2000

Tchmyreva, Irina. "War of Art and Photography," in Imago, n. 10, Summer, Bratislava

1999

Shockley, Susan , Hall, Lila. Gregori Maiofis "Painting as Improvisation" exhibition catalogue, Parthenon Museum, Nashville, TN

1999

Sims, Michael. "Pieced Together," in Nashville Scene, April 1, Nashville Alan Bostick, "Return of the Russian," in The Tennessean, March 28, Nashville

1997

Meiland, Williams. text (for Gregori Maiofis) in Bulyansky Gallery brochure, Moscow, Russia

1993

Bostick, Alan. "Different Strokes," in The Tennessean, June 17, Nashville

1991

Fields, Laura. "Five Young Artists from Leningrad," text for the exhibition catalogue, ESEC Academy, Paris

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California
Museum of Fine Art, Houston, Texas
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, California
Carmel Center for Photographic Art, California
Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava, Slovakia
Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Russia
ROSIZO State Center for Museums and Exhibitions, Moscow, Russia
Kemerovo Art Museum, Kemerovo, Russia
Tomsk Art Museum, Tomsk, Russia
Sakhalin Art Museum, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia
Ivanovo Art Museum, Ivanovo, Russia
Yaroslavl Art Museum, Yaroslavl, Russia
Kurgan Art Museum, Kurgan, Russia
Irbit Art Museum, Irbit, Russia
Kursk State Art Gallery, Kursk, Russia
Penza State Art Gallery, Penza, Russia
Omsk Art Museum, Omsk, Russia
Tula Art Museum, Tula, Russia

AWARDS

2006

Betty and Jim Kasson Award, at the 16th Annual Competition organized by the Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, CA

2004

A grant from the KulturKontakt foundation, Wien, Austria