RAM COLLECTION FOCUS: Sergei Isupov

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

February 23 – June 8, 2014
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI

A mid-career retrospective for an innovative artist who has pushed the possibilities of clay by combining two-dimensional narrative with three-dimensional ceramic form. Isupov explores the human condition. His vocabulary includes human beings and animals, gender, identity, and relationship issues, autobiography, art history, and symbolism.

ABOUT SERGEI ISUPOV

Sergei Isupov is an Estonian-American sculptor internationally known for his highly detailed, narrative works. Isupov explores painterly figure-ground relationships, creating surreal sculptures with a complex artistic vocabulary that combines two- and three-dimensional narratives and animal/human hybrids. He works in ceramic using traditional hand building and sculpting techniques to combine surface and form with narrative painting using stains and clear glaze.

“Everything that surrounds and excites me is automatically processed and transformed into an artwork. The essence of my work is not in the medium or the creative process, but in the human beings and their incredible diversity. When I think of myself and my works, I’m not sure I create them, perhaps they create me.”

Isupov has a long international resume with work included in numerous collections and exhibitions, including the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (TX), Museum of Arts and Design (NY), Racine Art Museum (WI), Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MA), and the Erie Art Museum (PA), at which he presented selected works in a 20-year career survey Hidden Messages in 2017 and Surreal Promenade in 2019 at the Russian Museum of Art (MN).

MORE ON SERGEI ISUPOV

EVENTS

Free First Friday in March
March 7, 2014, 10:00–5:00

Visitors can enjoy the Racine Art Museum for FREE the first Friday of every month. Located steps from Lake Michigan in downtown Racine, RAM is one of the nation’s most significant craft museums.

Meet The Artist | Sergei Isupov
Friday, March 21, 2014, 6-8:30 PM

The reception includes a meet and greet and book signings with Sergei Isupov, light refreshments, and a cash bar. Complimentary admission to NCECA attendees wearing their badge and to RAM members, $10 for all others.

Sergei Isupov, “Ray”, 2009, stoneware, 29″ x 20″ x 17″

Sergei Isupov, “Two Fish”, 2011, porcelain, 16 x 7 x 6″

Sergei Isupov, “Protection”, 1999, porcelain, 10.5 x 16 x 13″

Sergei Isupov, “Thin Line”, 2002, porcelain, 17.5 x 15.5 x 15″

Sergei Isupov, “Way of Thinking, It’s Like That”, 1997, porcelain, 10.5 x 15 x 6.5″

Sergei Isupov, “Passion”, 2005, porcelain, 7.75 x 14 x 3″

Sergei Isupov, “Attitude, Angle of Approach”, 1994-5, porcelain, glaze, stain, 9.5 x 7 x 17.25″

Sergei Isupov, “Balanced Moment”, 1998, porcelain, glaze, stain, 14 x 12 x 14″

Sergei Isupov, “Untitled (teapot), 1994, porcelain, glaze, stain, 5 x 9 x 4”

Sergei Isupov, “The Search” 1996, porcelain, glaze, slip, 5.5 x 9 x 4″. Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI.

Sergei Isupov, “The Delivery”, 1996, porcelain, glaze, stain, 5.5 x 11 x 4″. Collection of Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI.

Sergei Isupov, “Fan the Fire”, 1996, porcelain, glaze, stain, 6.5 x 8 x 4″. Collection of Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI

Sergei Isupov, “Symbol”, 1999, porcelain, glaze, stain, 12.5 x 8.5 x 19″. Collection of Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI.

Sergei Isupov, “Redemption Day”, 1998, porcelain, glaze, stain, 13 x 15 x 6.5″. Collection of Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI.

Sergei Isupov, “Never the Same”, 1997, porcelain, glaze, stain, 16 x 8.5 x 11.5″. Collection of Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI.

NOW AVAILABLE | PRINTS & WORKS ON PAPER

A selection of prints and works on paper are available for sale through the Racine Art Museum and Ferrin Contemporary.

View the complete collection HERE.

Sergei Isupov, “Old Man”, 2008, gouache on paper, 60 x 42″

Sergei Isupov, “Waiting”, 2010, charcoal on paper, 46.5 x 60″

Sergei Isupov, “Complimentary”, 2000, vitreograph, siligraphy, intaglio, image: 8 x 10″, paper: 14 x 16″

Sergei Isupov, “Metamorphosis”, 2004, image: 23.75 x 17.5″, framed: 30 x 22.5″

Sergei Isupov, “Help Your Self”, 2012, copper plate etching on archival paper, 17 x 15.5″

EXHIBITION CATALOG

This scholarly text includes essays on the significance of Sergei Isupov’s work to the ceramic field from Anthony Stellacio, Project Manager and Curatorial Research Specialist, Smithsonian, National Museum of African Art, and Lena Vigna, RAM Curator of Exhibitions. In addition, a conversation between Bruce W. Pepich, RAM Executive Director, and Leslie Ferrin, gallery owner and curator, explores the dynamic, supportive relationship between Ferrin and Isupov.

This 28-page booklet features 25 full-color images of Isupov’s pieces in RAM’s permanent collection.

Published in 2014 by Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI

Essays and images explore the artist and his place at RAM and in the larger universe of art.

• Captured Imagination: The Enigma of Sergei Isupov by Anthony Stellaccio
• Collection Focus: Sergei Isupov at RAM by Lena Vigna
• A Conversation between Leslie Ferrin and Bruce W. Pepich about Sergei Isupov

28-page, full-color exhibition catalog

Purchase the Catalog