Zinovy Shersher                   BIOGRAPHY

 

“I want people to hear the music in my paintings," says Zinovy Shersher.

Born and raised in the former Soviet Union, Zinovy Shersher began his artistic life in his early youth. Already attending music school, he began to study art at the age of 9. Once he had finished high school, Shersher began his studies at the University of Fine Arts in the city of Kursk. After being awarded the Master of Arts degree in 1970, he enrolled in the College of Music, graduating in 1976.

In 1972 Shersher moved to Moscow, where he unofficially began his career in visual arts. Since he refused to paint politically-related images, such as portraits of Soviet political leaders, the Soviet authorities would not allow Shersher to exhibit his art to the public. With the help of his friends, he showed his works of art in underground exhibitions, in secrecy from the authorities.  Regardless of the obstacles on the path of his artistic career, Shersher did not give up his creativity and continued to work in both visual arts and in music.

Upon arrival in the United States, Shersher enrolled in New York's prestigious School of Visual Arts. It was not long before his art was flourishing with his new found freedom and began to receive critical acclaim in one-person and group shows in New York galleries.

 

 

A composer as well as a painter, Shersher creates lyrical paintings which merge the emotional and intellectual into melodic images of passionate tranquility.  Strong feelings for movement, expressed with curvilinear lines and cubist sensibilities, form a counterpoint to the artist's peaceful and harmonious themes.

"Zinovy Shersher's work creates a unique, capacious and dynamic form, filled with interplay between space and color. It displays a matured, personal esthetic and world view..." - Sam Feiginov, professor.

Today, his work is featured in significant collections throughout the United States and Europe. In Los Angeles, where he currently resides, Shersher's art has been exhibited in number of galleries.

One of Shersher's most important works has drawn considerable attention in Los Angeles, particularly in the Aliso-Pico area where artist installed a 2,000 square foot mural entitled "We have a future." He donated six months of his time to this project which earned him numerous awards, the Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles and the appreciation of community residents.  

In 1992, Shersher was commissioned to create stained glass windows for the Russian Chabbad Synagogue in Los Angeles.  In windows, in his own style, he created historical compositions of Moses, first Temple, God Creation of the World, etc.

In 1993 he was commissioned to do a painting with the portraits of First Oscar winners for the 65-th anniversary of the Oscars.

In addition to galleries, he is also represented by the R&S Gallery of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Hollywood Entertainment Museum.

Zinovy Shersher is an award winning member of The Oil Pastel Association.

More then 100 articles, TV and Radio interviews devoted to Zinovy Shersher. His biography is in the "Encyclopedia of living artists in America", "Who is who in Art" and "Who is who in the West".