Alex Melamid
Alex Melamid (b. 1945, Moscow) is formerly part of the famous Russian duo 'Komar and Melamid’ that lasted for 36 years, from 1967 until 2003. Alex Melamid studied at the Moscow Art School from 1958 - 1960 and in 1967 obtained an MFA from Moscow’s Stroganov Institute of Art and Design. In 1972 Alex Melamid founded Sots Art movement, a unique version of Soviet Pop and Conceptual Art. In 1977 Komar & Melamid emigrated to Israel and a year later, in 1978 they both moved to New York. Komar and Melamid became internationally known having shown at Biennales and Documenta, Kassel. Their “People's Choice” series, 1994–1997, consisted of the "most wanted" and "most unwanted" paintings of 11 countries, as well as two songs in the same vein. The artists commissioned polling companies in the 11 countries—including the United States, Russia, China, France, and Kenya—to conduct scientific polls to discover what they want to see in art. The use of polls was meant to mimic the American democratic process. Komar said, "Our interpretation of polls is our collaboration with various people of the world. It is a collaboration with [sic] new dictator—Majority." Their works were acquired by major museums and …
Alex Melamid (b. 1945, Moscow) is formerly part of the famous Russian duo 'Komar and Melamid’ that lasted for 36 years, from 1967 until 2003. Alex Melamid studied at the Moscow Art School from 1958 - 1960 and in 1967 obtained an MFA from Moscow’s Stroganov Institute of Art and Design. In 1972 Alex Melamid founded Sots Art movement, a unique version of Soviet Pop and Conceptual Art. In 1977 Komar & Melamid emigrated to Israel and a year later, in 1978 they both moved to New York. Komar and Melamid became internationally known having shown at Biennales and Documenta, Kassel. Their “People's Choice” series, 1994–1997, consisted of the "most wanted" and "most unwanted" paintings of 11 countries, as well as two songs in the same vein. The artists commissioned polling companies in the 11 countries—including the United States, Russia, China, France, and Kenya—to conduct scientific polls to discover what they want to see in art. The use of polls was meant to mimic the American democratic process. Komar said, "Our interpretation of polls is our collaboration with various people of the world. It is a collaboration with [sic] new dictator—Majority." Their works were acquired by major museums and public collections. From 2003, upon breaking up with his counterpart, Melamid has painted a series of meticulously realistic, large size portraits of rappers, clergymen, Russian oligarchs, and New York Rabbis. The artist explains that his new series, which will have about 100 portraits when completed, is inspired by his childhood dream of “unlimited” painting. Recently Melamid has started a series of conceptual works called Neo-Senilism. In 2008 the artist declared that he is God. Melamid lives and works in New York and recently he had a solo exhibition at (Art) Amalgamated, Chelsea, NY.
