«As a creative personality, Edward Bekkerman has developed along the lines of classical modernism. He creates and inhabits his own world. He does not regard matters of self-expression as an excuse for irony. Even in his behavior, he adheres to the mythology of modernism (which the classics of modernism have themselves already broken, appearing in the role of newsmakers). He is a solitary artist, an individualist far removed from the professional environment and little concerned about public relations or his relationship with the establishment. While such a stance might be regarded as archaic, experience shows that it always incorporates great potential topicality. In Bekkerman's case, it is wholly natural. His art is foreordained to be understood»

/Dr. Alexander Borovsky,
Head of the Department of Contemporary Art,
State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg/

The Russian-born painter, Mr. Bekkerman, is perhaps a fortunate beneficiary of the broader trend. He painted his abstract pieces in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11. «Everybody was trying to express something black, horrible. I was thinking about how I could give them light and beauty», Mr. Bekkerman said. The artist emigrated from the former Soviet Union in 1975 at the age of 15.

Trained as a Bolshoi Ballet dancer in his native country, Mr. Bekkerman worked with George Balanchine at the School of American Ballet upon moving to New York. He left the profession after injuries and took up painting. Today his work is in the permanent collection of the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

1958 Born in Russia.

1969-74 - Study ballet at the Bolshoi School
1974 - Emigrated to USA
1974-80 - Study ballet at the School of American Ballet, worked with George Balanchine
1983-87 - Art Students League; New York; full scholarship.

Exibitions

  • 1990 - Museum of Contemporary Russian Art; Jersey City, NJ; group exhibition.
  • 1991 - Prince Art Gallery; NY; solo exhibition of paintings, sculptures and drawings.
  • 1991 - «Pictures Return to Russia, Pictures Remain in Russia»; traveling exhibition, book published.
  • 1992 - Central House of Artists; Moscow; group exhibition.
  • 1994 - Guardians of the Soul; paintings and drawings; Russian State Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; solo exhibition; full-color catalogue published.
  • 1994 - Warehouse Gallery; Council for Creative Projects, Lee, MA; group exhibition.
  • 1995 - «Talent»; Allan Stone Gallery, NY; group exhibition.
  • 1995 - Eastwick Art Gallery; Chicago, IL; Reviewed by Alan G. Artner. 10.13.95, “Bekkerman reveals his ‘Russianness,’” Chicago Tribune; solo exhibition.
  • 1996 - Work acquired for permanent collection by the Reflex Miniature Museum of Contemporary Art, Amsterdam.
  • 1996 - «Inverted Perspective» Eighth Floor Gallery, Inc., NY; group exhibition.
  • 1996 - Warehouse Gallery; Lee, MA; group exhibition.
  • 1996 - 69 Perry St.; solo salon exhibition, NY.
  • 1998 - The Montauk Club; Brooklyn, NY; solo exhibition.
  • 1999 - Galerie Lange; Bonn, Germany; solo exhibition.
  • 1999 - Abschied vom 20. Jahrhundert («Goodbye to the 20th century»); Balhaus am Nordpark, Dusselforf, Germany; group exhibition.
  • 2000-02 - Christo Antico Monastero Sante Chiara; Repubblice Di San Marino, Italy; book published: 2000 Years of Christ. Full-page color image. (traveling exhibition, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg; Vienna, Austria; San Paolo, Brazil).
  • 2002 - Art and Religion in Russia; Gemeentemuseum, The Hague.
  • 2002 - Grant Gallery; Soho New York City; group exhibition.
  • 2002 - Art of the 20th Century; Park Avenue Armory, New York; represented by ABA Gallery; group exhibition.
  • 2003 - Christo, traveling exhibition; Punkaharju, Finland, Retretti Art Centre.
  • 2003 - Gatherings, Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago.
  • 2003 - Paintings of Angels used as a stage set for ballet «Medea», Lincoln Center, New York.
  • 2004 - Dreams; The Abud Family Foundation for the Arts, Princeton, NJ; solo exhibition.
  • 2005 - Collage in the 20th Century; Russian State Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; group exhibition; hard cover book published.
  • 2006 - Dreams, Interart Gallery; two man show; New York.
  • 2006 - EDGE Art Gallery, St. Petersburg
  • 2008 - Power Of Water Exhibition, The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg