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LEV KHESIN / painter

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Berlin based Russian painter, Lev Khesin is an extraordinary artist. Layers after layers of paint, pigments and colourful silicon are applied to his paintings, creating a form usually characteristic of sculptures.

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His work has no limits, no geometrical borderlines, no visible frames, but rhymes with Zen rituals. 

 

His art book "Morphologie" was launched by Distanz Verlag last month. Lev Khesin © represent by ZOLTAN+ MEDIA London

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for enquiry

BIOGRAPHY

 

 

 

Artist, painter Lev Khesin, born in Penza, Russia, is living and working in Berlin since 1999, making sculpture-like paintings that bring the complex interaction between colour and materiality into focus.

 

Defying the sway of linguistic systems, Khesin, who graduated from Frank Badur’s master class in Berlin, explores the cognitive potential of an art unfettered by concepts imposed on objects and phenomena.

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In a time-consuming process and using diverse tools, he spreads out layers after layers of translucent silicone dyed in a variety of hues, moulding smooth surfaces and rutted structures. Experimentation and discovery are always part of Khesin’s artistic method. Every silicone layer covers the surface of the panel like a film.

 

The number of layers on a painting varies from a dozen to a hundred. Khesin mixes the transparent silicone with different pigments and every layer can therefore differ from the next in terms of color and degree of transparency.

By painting in silicone enhanced with pigments, Khesin appeals to the senses of vision and touch in equal measure.

 

Since 2005 he had numerous solo and group shows in museums and galleries in Germany, USA, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, France and Japan.

 

His art book “Morphologie" was published by Distanz Verlag, Germany, in 2019.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITIONS

 

 

 

/ SOLO EXHIBITIONS

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2019         

Artea Gallery / 5 October 2019

/ Milan

 

2018         

in focus // out of focus / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK 

/ Munich

 

Morphologie / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie 

/ Hamburg

 

2017         

Apeiron / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Munich

 

One-Artist Show / Art Karlsruhe, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Karlsruhe

 

2016         

Neon Black / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie

/ Hamburg

 

2015

One-Artist Show / Art Karlsruhe, LÄKEMÄKER

/ Karlsruhe

 

2014         

Dark Matter / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

 

Permutation / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Ulm

 

Aquacone - Liquid Boundaries / Till Richter Museum

/ Buggenhagen

 

2013         

Klärt sich das Wasser, werden Fische sichtbar - Teil I.

/ Kunstverein                                           

/ Bamberg

 

Klärt sich das Wasser, werden Fische sichtbar - Teil II.  

/ Evelyn Drewes | Galerie                

/ Hamburg

 

Stoffwechsel / Galerie im Rathaus Tempelhof

/ Berlin

 

2012         

Holy Hologram / LAKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

 

Oxymora / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Ulm

 

Elastic Pinioning / Java Haus

/ Hamburg

 

2011         

Chromofobia / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Ulm

 

2010         

Onomatopoeia / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

 

Lev Khesin / Vattenfall Lobby Hauptbahnhof

/ Berlin

 

2009         

Atmospheres / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

 

Solo Exhibition / Kunst 09 Zürich, vondöring contemporary

/ Zurich                        

 

Zeitwörter / Institute of Art Function

/ Fukuoka

 

The Basic Problem / vondöring contemporary

/ Schwäbisch Hall      

 

2008

Meta-Tags / Stella Art Foundation

/ Moscow

 

Kunststoff / Galerie Hans Tepe

/ Damme                     

 

2007         

Malerei / Galerie Kollaborativ

/ Berlin

 

Silicone Valley / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

 

 

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

 

 

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2018         

vis à vis / Barlach Halle K

/ Hamburg

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Roter Kunstsalon / Museum Villa Rot, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK                   

/ Burgrieden

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Künstler der Galerie / Kunstraum Darß

/ Born am Darß  

         

Art Los Angeles Contemporary / Lazy Mike Gallery

/ Los Angeles

 

2017         

Berlin Based / Till Richter Museum

/ Buggenhagen

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Roter Kunstsalon / Museum Villa Rot, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Burgrieden

                 

LEIZE JENIUS in the Wiesenburg / Wiesenburg

/ Berlin

                 

Hornig, Khesin, Marx, Nowinka, Ticha / Kunstraum Darß

/ Born am Darß

                 

Nachts alleine im Atelier / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie

/ Hamburg

 

2016         

ABSTRACT WORLDS / Till Richter Museum

/ Buggenhagen

                 

Günther Hornig, Lev Khesin / Kunstraum Darß

/ Born am Darß           

                 

Roter Kunstsalon / Museum Villa Rot, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Burgrieden

                 

Nachts alleine im Atelier / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie 

/ Hamburg

                 

CONTEXT New York / LÄKEMÄKER

/ New York

 

2015         

Nachts alleine im Atelier / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie

/ Hamburg

                 

DIS# COVER - Janina Roider, Lev Khesin / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Munich

 

2014         

Art from Germany: Between Man and Nature / Till Richter Museum

/ Buggenhagen

                 

Art Miami / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Miami

 

2013         

Junge Positionen / Heyne Kunst Fabrik

/ Offenbach                  

                 

Duett / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

 

2012         

LAYERS - Gabriele Evertz, Lev Khesin and Julia Steiner / Sonja Roesch Gallery

/ Houston

                 

MATCH - Piet Tyutel, Lev Khesin / Galerie Nouvelles Images

/ The Hague                 

                 

Retraho / Betahaus

/ Berlin

                 

Dripping Color Amazement / Galerie oqbo

/ Berlin

 

2011         

Deux générations, Deux visions / Le Château de Saint-Auvent 

/ Saint-Auvent

                 

Preview Berlin / LÄKEMÄKER, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK

/ Berlin

                 

Winterausstellung / Irrgang

/ Leipzig

 

2010         

Kunst 10 Zürich / vondöring contemporary

/ Zurich

                 

ZEITges(ch)ehen / Rathaus Tempelhof-Schöneberg

/ Berlin       

                 

MATCHBOX- Lev Khesin, Xuan Wang, Robert Orchardson, Mikolaj Polinski

/ vondöring contemporary

/ Schwäbisch Hall

                                                                                           

2009         

Hello World / Ito Native Art Museum

/ Fukuoka

                 

Iakov, Nadja and Lev Khesin / Mediacity 

/ Leipzig

 

2008         

Qui Vive? / 1ST International Biennale for Young Art

/ Moscow

                 

SOMMER / LÄKEMÄKER

/ Berlin

                 

Intuitive Kalligrafie / Solaris Gallery

/ Togliatti

                 

Small / Marat Guelman Gallery

/ Moscow

                 

News / Galerie Hans Tepe

/ Damme


Eb Dietzsch Kunstpreis für Malerei / Geraer Bank

/ Gera   

                                          

2007         

MULTIPLES - VIELFACHES / Cité des Arts

/ Chambéry

                 

Mention / Privatraum

/ Berlin

 

2006         

Ausser Haus / Uferhallen

/ Berlin

 

2005         

Group Show / THE FRAME Gallery

/ Pittsburgh

                 

PAINTTHINGS  / Ellis Gallery

/ Pittsburgh

 

 

 

PRIZES & SCHOLARSHIPS

 

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2017         

Artist-in-Residence / Arthouse Tulum

Tulum / Mexico

 

2010         

Tempelhof-Schöneberg Art Prize / Rathaus Tempelhof-Schöneberg

Berlin / Germany

 

2009         

Artist-in-Residence Scholarship / Studio Kura

Fukuoka / Japan

 

2008         

Project Grant / Stella Art Foundation

Moscow / Russia

 

2005         

NICA Scholarship / Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh / USA

 

 

 

EDUCATION

 

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2007 - 2008                

University of the Arts / Meisterstudium

Berlin / Germany

 

2005                            

Carnegie Mellon University / Fine Arts

Pittsburgh / USA

 

2002 - 2007                

University of the Arts / Fine Arts

Berlin / Germany

 

1997 - 1999                

Savitsky Art School / Fine Arts 

Penza / Russia

 

 

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1981                          

Born in Penza, Russia

 

Since 1999 Lev Khesin lives and works in Berlin

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Lev Khesin © represent by ZOLTAN+ London

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