Sleeping Beauty, 2008

I was seduced by Serge Marshennikov's alluring female oil portrait, The Pirate Style Bed. Marshennikov uses the languorous pose of his model, a delicate swatch of lace draped over her hip, and deep folds of luxuriant bed sheets, comforters and warm pillows to convey sensuality, femininity and the promise of endless pleasure that comes with waking each morning with original works of exquisite art.” Tomas Hall, art critique, Florida

Serge Marshennikov was born in 1971 in Ufa (Bashkiria, USSR). His grandfather was a general manager of a horse breeding company, his father an electric engineer and his mother a pre-school educator. Since before he can remember, Serge was always drawing, painting and sculpting from any material he could land his hands on. His mother encouraged Serge to study, and from an early childhood he had a succession of private teachers and attended multiple art studios. After receiving several awards for his children’s watercolor and pastel paintings, Serge decided to become a professional painter.

In 1995 he finished the Ufa Art College and then continued education at one of the most prestigious art academies in the world, The Repin Academy of Fine Art in St. Petersburg, Russia. As one of the most talented graduates of the academy, Serge was offered to stay for the post-graduate studies at the studio of an Academician, the Rector of the Academy, Professor Milnikov.

Serge’s first solo exhibition was in the gallery “Sangat” of his native UFA in 1995, a year after graduation. The show was a success and Serge was invited to exhibit at the Artists’ Union gallery. He then exhibited on a semi-annual basis, showing his work to collectors and peers in both St Petersburg and Ufa. Upon Serge’s graduation, his work quickly caught the eye of faculty members from Brownwood University in Texas, and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. As a result, he exhibited during his post-graduation years in the art departments of both Universities.

Serge was awarded “Chairman’s Choice Award” at the 2008/2009 International Art Renewal Center’s salon, and received Certificate of Excellence for his outstanding achievement in art. He was chosen as “Top 30” in 2008 by the Portrait Society of America.

Lately Serge’s paintings have been successfully sold through important art auctions, including famous Christie’s of London and Bonham's in Knightsbridge. His work is in high demand, with paintings currently held in the Museum of Modern Art (El Paso), The Grace Museum (Abilene), and in many important private collections throughout the United States, Russia, England, Denmark, France and Japan.

Serge’s biggest influences were Andrew Wyeth & Lucian Freud.