Friday’s ad is for a Russian beer by famed illustrator Ivan Bilibin in 1903. The brewery is New Bavaria of St. Petersburg. Bilibin was most known for his fairy tales and other children’s book illustrations. While I don’t know what any of the text says, the artwork is quite striking and beautiful.
Today’s works of art is quite modern, painted in a style that’s been described as “biomorphic cubism with a touch of surrealism.” The title of the acrylic painting is Cheers, and it was completed last year, in 2009.
The artist, Alex Arshansky, moved with his family from Moscow, Russia to Tucson, Arizona when he was 18. From his Fine Art America biography:
Alexander was born in Moscow and has moved to Arizona (USA) at the age of 18. As the East met West, his work has evolved and become more expressive, depicting symbolic, ambiguous forms and subjects. The critics and art lovers define Alexander’s style as Biomorphic Cubism with elements of surrealism. Great attention is paid to numbers, letters, signs and symbols. Alexander’s works feature vivid, saturated colors – they produce a visual impact even without understanding the content of the painting. Some of his art pieces present a challenging interpretation of religious events and common dogmas to the point of insult.
You can see more of Arshansky’s work at his own website and also at Fine Art America.
