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Biography

Muhadin Kishev – Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts and People’s Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria.

Muhadin Kishev’s creative personality can be compared to that of the Renaissance artists. Like Leonardo, he observes our vast and undiscovered world full of delight and reverence. His presence in the art market, the praise of art historians and the attention and love of the public make Kishev one of the leading contemporary artists in Russia.

Muhadin Kishev was born in 1939 in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in the Caucasus. He graduated in Fine Arts from Krasnodar State University and parallel with his studies was awarded the medal for acrobatic aviation, so completing his Military service. Kishev spent the early years of his artistic career as a member of the Union of Artists, working in the Monumental Arts which gave him greater freedom of expression, completing projects and State assignments in murals, mosaics, bas-relief and intarsia.

During the early years of “Perestroika” Kishev, as mentor and tutor to the most promising young artists in the special residences for artists, founded a whole generation of talented artists. Kishev created his own monotype technique, now used by his followers in many countries where he has given master classes. He spent four years in London as guest artist at the Chisenhale Studios and this London period marked a radical change in his creative work. He now lives and works in his Studio in Spain, in Cadiz.

Kishev’s life and art constitute a fusion of East and West, and Spain has had a marked impact on his work. His lifestyle is spartan and athletic. To see the world through the eyes of Kishev is to see the beauty of our surroundings. Kishev’s paintings have a vivid personality, distinguished by the recognizable “Kishevsky colour” which submerges us in a world of wonder and marvels and makes us dream of cosmic spaces and experience the mystery and enigma of their shapes.

Kishev has received many honours and awards in Russia and other countries including six gold medals for his work. He has taken part in over 80 major group exhibitions in Russia and abroad and held 47 solo exhibitions. Among his rich bibliography of films, books and catalogues special mention is given to the jubilee album “Hymn to Beauty” released for the 70th anniversary of the artist and the academic monograph of his artwork “The Art of Love” by Sergei Stupin, art critic and doctor of philosophy, published to mark his 75th anniversary. Now for the artist’s 80th a unique publication is
being prepared made up of Kishev’s original monologues.

Kishev’s paintings are in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, the Kabardino-Balkarian Museum of Fine Arts, in many regional museums of Russia (Krasnodar, Tobolsk etc) and in Cultural Centres in England and Spain. More than 300 paintings are in private collections around the world, including the Spanish Royal family, Zurab Tsereteli, Maxim Voznesesnsky, the Gorbachev Foundation, and the Kolodzei Collection of Russian Art in New York.

Timeline

1963

First Class Diploma for Excellence, State University, Krasnodar. Russia.

1964

First Class Diploma from the Ministry of Culture, Kabardino-Balkaria. Russia.

1970

Medal for Valiant Labour. Russia.

1982

The Laureate prize of Lenin, Kabardino-Balkaria. Russia.

2000

In Moscow, awarded the Order of Knight of Honour, for his contribution to Russian Contemporary Art and his charity work.<br>Honoured Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria, Rusia.

2001

Academician & Comendador de las Palmas Académicas of the International Academy of Science, Technology & Humanities, Valencia, Spain.<br>Received the Order of Malta, Zaragoza, Spain.<br>Honorary member of the Circassian Academy of Sciences, KBR, Russia.<br>Member of the European Academy of Arts, Belgium.

2002

Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow

2003

Gold medal (vermeil) European Academy of Arts. Spanish Section. Madrid

2004

National Gold Medal, European Academy of Arts, Belgium.<br>National Gold Medal, European Academy of Arts, Paris.

2007

Jubilee Gold Medal “450 years with Russia”, KBR, Russia.

2008

Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts, for his exhibition “The Power of Colour” the Moscow Museum of Modern Art.<br>Member of the Circassian Academy of Sciences, KBR, Russia.<br>Member of the Union of Artists, Amman, Jordan.<br>Gold Medal “300 anniversary of the victory over the Crimean Tatars”, for his painting “The Battle of Kanzhal”

2009

Full member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow

2010

The “Shuvalov” Gold Medal from the Russian Academy of Arts, for his exhibition “A Hymn to Beauty” at the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow.

2013

Artist Emeritus of the Russian Federation

2015

Gold Medal of «Outstanding Merit» from the Russian Academy of Arts for his exhibition «A Hymn to Beauty».

2019

Order of the Russian Academy of Arts in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to Art

2019Retrospective Exhibition to mark Kishev’s 80th birthday at the Kabardino-Balkarian Museum of Fine Arts in Nalchik
2017“The Music of Colour”, The National Museum, Grozny, Chechnya, Russia

“A Hymn to Beauty”, The Kabardino-Balkarian Museum of Fine Arts, Nalchik.

2016“A Hymn to Beauty”, 75th. Birthday of the artist, The National Museum, Nalchik.
2015“A Hymn to Beauty”, The Central House of the Artist, Moscow, Russia.
2014“A Hymn to Beauty”, El Espacio de las Artes, Marbella, Spain.

“A Hymn to Beauty”, Foundation for Culture, Nalchik.

“A Hymn to Beauty”, Cultural Centre “Acropolis”, Nalchik.

“A Hymn to Beauty”, El Espacio de las Artes, Madrid, Spain.

2013“A Hymn to Beauty” Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Madrid, Spain
2012“A Hymn to Beauty”. Exhibition in the Parshin Gallery, Stavropol, Russia

“A Hymn to Beauty”. Exhibition in the Museum of Oriental Peoples, Maikop, Republic of
Adygeya, Russia

2010“A Hymn to Beauty”. Exhibition in the Pushkin House. London.

Jubilee exhibition ”A Hymn to Beauty” 70th.birthday & 50 years of work in art, Filial of the Museum of Orient, Maikop,
republic of Adygeya, Russia.

2009Jubilee exhibition ”A Hymn to Beauty” 70th.birthday & 50 years of work in art, National Museum, Nalchik, KBR,
Russia
2008The Power of Colour The Museum of Modern Art, Moscow, Russia.

The Power of Colour The Museum of Modern Art, Sala Aires, Córdoba. Spain..

2007Around the Circle, The Rectorate ofMalaga University, Malaga, Spain.

Rhythm and Colour Vincent Gallery, Moscow, Russia.

2006Window on Europe, National Museum of Nalchik, KBR, Russia.

The Beginning of the Way ( Kishev collection of the Soviet Period), Museum of Fine Art, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia

2005Nostalgia for Nature, Caja Rural del Sur, Huelva, Spain.

Nostalgia for Nature, Galería Nim, Madrid, Spain.

Spaces, Sala Joan Miró, Palace de Congress, Madrid, Spain.

Window on Europe, Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow, Russia.

2004Nostalgia for Nature, Benalmadena, Spain.

Nostalgia for Nature, Museum of Wild Life, Leon, Spain.

2003Latest work, El Ateneo, Madrid.

Nostalgia for Nature, Marbella, Spain.

2002Muhadin Kishev in Andalusia, Jerez, Cadiz.
2001From the Caucasus to Andalusia, – three simultaneous exhibitions: the University of Cadiz, the Foundation of Culture and the Benot Gallery, Cadiz.

Andalusia in the eyes of Muhadin Kishev Instituto Cervantes, London.

The Beauty of Life, Hotel Cosmos, Moscow.

2000Jubilee exhibition, 60th.birthday & 40 years of work in art, National Museum, Nalchik, Central House of Artists & the House of Nationalities, Moscow.
1999Meditation, House of Culture, Vejer, Spain.
1998Recent work, Canon Exhibition Hall, Moscow.

Monoprints, MossCo Art World, London.

1997From London to Moscow, Central House of Artists, Moscow.

Monoprints, MossCo Art World, London.

Charity Exhibition –“ ArtAid” for the children of the Caucasus, Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London.

1996Monoprints, MossCo Art World, London.
1994Central House of Artists, Moscow.
1990Jubilee exhibition, 50th.birthday, & 30 years of work in art, Museum of Fine Art, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria.
1982Museum of Fine Art, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria.
1965Museum of Fine Art, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria.
1963Krasnodar University, Russia.
Biography 2016: “The Art of Love” Muhadin Kishev
By Sergei Stupin
(BooksMArt. Moscow)
Monographic study of Kishev’s art.
Biography 2015: “Muhadin Kishev: Labyrinths of Harmony (Our Celebrities)”
Book to mark Kishev’s 75th.
Biography 2009: “A Hymn to Beauty”
Shows the development of Kishev’s art from his early years up to present times with biographical data and extracts from international art critics.
Biography 2004: “Stretch out the palms of your hands to the fire in my soul”
M.A. Kotlyarova/B.N.Kotlyarov
Book about the life and artwork of Muhadin Kishev to celebrate his 65th.