Sergey Zarva
Sergey Zarva was born in 1973 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. In 1992, he graduated from the Grekov Odessa Art School. During the 90s, Zarva created various group portraits based on Soviet amateur photography: Rabbit Lovers, Household, etc. However, characters with red-violet blush and brown tan look rather like creatures from the other world than happy Soviet citizens. Hereby, the artist reflects on the grim reality behind the image of communist paradise. In the 2000s, he elaborated on this method by painting on covers of the Ogoniok magazine — he exposes muscles and paints bruises of a rotten colour on the faces of famous actors, astronauts, politicians. Several of these works were exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2013.
Throughout the 2010s, Zarva introduced icons and symbols of the new era to his work — Russian politician (An Informal Meeting at the Crimean Level, 2012), covers of glamorous magazines (Elle, 2010; Vogue Beauty, 2011). Moreover, in some of his projects, Zarva appropriates family and dischargee albums or Soviet buffets (Library of Optimism, 2013). Some of his recent artworks feature characters dressed according to the 70s fashion, standing against the curtains. By doing so, the artist reimagines the iconography of a parlour photoshoot, supplementing it with attributes of a baroque portrait.
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First-hand Art. The Collector's View: Looking back and Forward
13 Nov 2020 - 27 Jan 2021This year, the OVCHARENKO Gallery celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. It is a grand and joyful celebration, not only because it, in fact, aligns with the anniversary of our new state,...Read more -
Sergey Zarva
Tomb of the Prince of Tauride 10 Sep - 20 Oct 2019For a short while OVCHARENKO gallery turns a “Tomb of the Prince of Tauride”. Crimean artist Sergey Zarva transforms the space of the gallery by himself.Read more -
TUTTI FRUTTI
13 Sep - 27 Nov 2016Mikhail Ovcharenko is the new director of Regina. Now, it's his responsibility to take care of and grow the gallery's many fruits, as he encourages everyone to get out of...Read more -
The Team I Can't Live Without
Group Show 8 Nov - 6 Dec 2013'The team from our youth, the team we can't live without!' Regina Gallery presents an exhibition featuring some of today's most progressive Russian artists, curated by Mikhail Ovcharenko. The show...Read more -
Sergey Zarva
Library of Optimism 5 Sep - 31 Oct 2013For a short while REGINA Gallery will turn into a temporary library of the past. This project has been called 'The Library of Optimism' by its author, Ukrainian artist Sergey...Read more -
Sergey Zarva
Discoteque 6 Apr - 13 May 2005Regina Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new works by Sergey Zarva 'Discoteque'Read more -
Sergey Zarva, Lavrenty Bruni
PLAYogonyokBOY 4 Sep - 12 Oct 2001Read more -
Oleg Golosiy, Vladimir Kozhukhar, Sergey Zarva
U kraya 24 Apr - 16 May 2000Read more
Solo exhibitions
2019
Tomb of the Prince of Tauride. OVCHARENKO. Moscow, Russia.
2013
Library of Optimism. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
2010
Ogonyok. Collection Gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Family Album. Collection Gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Honours Board. Collection Gallery. Kyiv, Ukraine.
2008
Tin Light. Norma Gallery. Odessa, Ukraine.
2005
Discoteque. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
2001
PLAY[ogonyok]BOY, in collaboration with Lavrentiy Bruni. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
1999
Family Album. Tirs Gallery. Odessa, Ukraine.
Group exhibitions
2020
First-hand Art. A Collector’s View: Looking Back and Forward. OVCHARENKO. Moscow, Russia.
2018
Monumental. Presale exhibition. Vladey. Ekaterina Cultural Foundation. Moscow, Russia.
The Moscow Times. Presale exhibition. Vladey Space. Moscow, Russia.
2016
Tutti Frutti. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
2015
Balagan!!! Kühlhaus. Berlin, Germany.
Spring Auction. Presale exhibition. Vladey. Winzavod Contemporary Art Centre. Moscow, Russia.
2013
Il Palazzo Enciclopedico. Venice Biennale 55. Venice, Italy.
The Team I Can't Live Without. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
Odessa School. Mystetskyi Arsenal. Kiev, Ukraine.
2011
Lymphatic Drainage. Small Gallery of the Art Arsenal. Kiev, Ukraine.
Ostalgia. New Museum. New York, USA.
Space Odyssey 2011. Mystetskyi Arsenal. Kiev, Ukraine.
2010
New Insincerity. Kiev Fine Art Gallery. Kiev, Ukraine.
2008
Decorative Realism. Bereznitsky Gallery. Berlin, Germany.
TOP-10 (2). Kiev Fine Art Gallery. Kiev, Ukraine.
2007
Art-raiders: First Experience. Starokonniy Market. Odessa, Ukraine.
Flies and Chicken Kiev. Starokonniy Market. Odessa, Ukraine.
I Believe! Winzavod Contemporary Art Centre. Moscow, Russia.
2006
Go, Ukraine, Go! Orange Summer Festival. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
ActuaLove. Museum of Art. Odessa, Ukraine.
2005
Art Moscow. Regina Gallery. Central House of Artists. Moscow, Russia.
Conjunctivitis. Ra Gallery. Kiev, Ukraine.
2004
Art Moscow Workshop. Central House of Artists. Moscow, Russia.
2000
At the Edge. Regina Gallery. Moscow, Russia.
1998
Beyond the Graph. Odessa Fine Arts Museum. Odessa, Ukraine.