PORTFOLIO

Bio:
Roman Tverdokhlebov, born in 1987 in Moscow, is a contemporary Russian artist. Graduated from Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after by V.I. Surikov, Master's degree in Sculpture in the workshop of sculptor Mikhail Pereyaslavets.

Opened the first solo exhibition "Museum of Post-Apocalyptic Archeology" at Cube Moscow in 2022. Participated in group exhibitions "Come Back Home" at the Institute of Russian Realistic Art in 2017 and "Selection Art Show" at Touchon&Co Gallery in 2019 in Los Angeles, USA and "Consolidation of Meaning" at the Gorky Park Museum in 2022.

Tverdokhlebov was also part of creative groups of creating urban monumental objects - Painting the plafond for the Lefortovo Metro station (2020) and recreating the historical appearance of the Volga region pavilion at VDNKh in (2020).

The works are in private collections and in the collection of the Andrei Voznesensky Museum and Cultural Center.

Lives and works in Moscow.

Education:
2006-2012 Graduated from Moscow State Academic Art Institute named by VI. Surikov, Master's degree in Sculpture by professor Pereyaslavets M.V. / Moscow, Russia

2001-2005 Graduated from Moscow Academic Art Lyceum by the Russian Academy of Arts with specialisation in sculpture / Moscow, Russia

CV

Selected exhibitions:

Solo show:
2022 «Museum of Post-Apocalyptic Archeology» Cube Moscow / Moscow, Russia

Group show:
2022 Nastya Miro / Roman Tverdokhlebov / Alexey Vasiliev group exhibition Cube Moscow / Moscow, Russia
2022 «Consolidation of Meaning» Gorky Park Museum + Cube Moscow / Moscow, Russia
2019 «Selection Art Show» Touchon&Co Gallery / Los-Angeles, US
2017 «Come Back Home» Institute of Russian Realistic Art / Moscow, Russia
2014 «Aqua Omnia Sunt» Gallery Nagornaya / Moscow, Russia
2014 «Bestiary» Darwin Museum / Moscow, Russia
2014 «Night of the Arts» on Pyatnitskaya Street «The Painting In The Showcase» / Moscow, Russia

Art-fairs:
2023 Art Moscow Art Fair, Plato Art Advisory stand / Gostiny Dvor / Moscow, Russia

Collections:
Museum and Cultural Center of Andrei Voznesenskiy / Moscow, Russia
Private collections

Artist Statement

Roman Tverdokhlebov belongs to a younger generation of artists whose work cannot be attributed to a single medium. Through a method of well-thought-out experimentation, Tverdokhlebov transforms his artistic message into a recognizable oeuvre. His material ranges from ceramics to large-scale sculptures in metal, and includes wall murals, painting, sculpture, and installation. It is a mature choice not to get caught in only one medium of expression, driven by a conscious utilisation of the breadth of contemporary tools to give form to his complex ideas. This mirrors the complexity of our world with its unlimited possibilities.

As an artist, Roman Tverdokhlebov is driven by a passion to explore the complexities of human existence, which serves as a starting point for the creative process. Delving into the depths of cultural norms, political systems, and historical context is fundamental to his oeuvre. It seems that the long-explored question by artists over the centuries about who we are, where we come from, where we are going, how we interact with each other, and where the position of the individual in society lies can no longer be reinterpreted. Roman Tverdokhlebov's uchronic aesthetics revolve around his concept of the position of an individual within society, its norms, and the world as a whole in a novel way. Tverdokhlebov finds answers by raising new questions about the human duality of existence, employing a language that the viewer can understand. If the world is dual, ambiguity and self-irony also characterize the author's thought process. Tverdokhlebov describes his art as an attempt to create a sense of disorientation and mystery.

Tverdokhlebov's works are created through experimentation with color elements, materials, and composition, always culminating in a piece that celebrates the harmony of form and intent. The characteristic Raku technique he employs creates the illusion of antiquity, making the objects appear as if they have withstood the test of time and survived to the present day. These artefacts blend ancient traditions with modern influences, reflecting the cyclical nature of history. He weaves a paradoxical narrative that unites the past and the future, the ideal and the perceptible, in a series of sculptures. It feels as if we are traveling through time, going back to ancient Greece, and from there, in the blink of an eye, transported to a post-apocalyptic surreal future where they take on new meaning. These works become a link to a lost past, a reminder of what we had, offering hope for what is still possible to recreate.

Tverdokhlebov's works delve into the belief systems, cultural norms, and values of a society that has long since disappeared. Where are we on the timeline of time and history? and what imprint will be left by us for future generations? Will they even remember us? Our human nature remains unchanged in its two-facedness: aggressive- destructive and cultural-ethical, generating numerous cognitive dissonances. Tverdokhlebov's work prompts reflection on our impact on the world, inspiring us to take a break and observe ourselves. Poetically, using the subtle language of art, the artist reminds us of the invaluable truth: every moment is fleeting and priceless. Each moment spent on this planet is unique, individual, and yet influences the global future, the universal whole that we are. Our legacy is in our hands. We are living in a historical moment when, before the apocalypse, everything can still be repaired—a fresh start.

Selected works