Georges ARTEMOFF

(1892-1965)

Georges ARTEMOFF is a French painter and sculptor of Russian origin. He studied both art forms in his home région, in Rostov and later in Moskow. In 1913, he was given a grant which enabled him to study in Paris. There Artemoff got close to some of the greatest artists of the age such as Juan Gris, Modigliani, Soutine, Picasso and Ossip Zadkine with whom he shared the Atelier de la Ruche. After joining the French army in 1914, he was seriously injured and hence discharged. Between 1917 and 1921, he took part in the Russian counter-revolutionary movement. On his return to Paris, in 1922, as well as painting, he specialized in Art Deco style sculpture and created decors and panel sculptures. From 1927, he regularly exhibited at the Société des Artistes Décorateurs, where he was awarded a gold medal for his artpiece ‘Wild boar Hunt’ in 1928. A member of the Groupe des Animaliers, who exposed their artwork at the Galerie Edgar Brandt in Paris, Artemoff was a defender of the unique work. He seldom produced double sculpted works and barely no edition sculptures. Artemoff also strongly upheld his freedom of creation, thus refusing to be bound by contract to art dealers. He produced pieces such as ‘Tiger Hunt’ and ‘Enchanting Fish’, the latter which can be seen at the Centre Pompidou.