| Stass Shpanin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Stanislav Vladimirovich Shpanin |
| Born | 16 May 1990 Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR |
| Field | Painting |
Stass Shpanin - contemporary visual artist. After numerous international awards and solo art exhibits including Israel, Russia, Italy, Azerbaijan, England, France and the U.S. he was included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Youngest Professional Artist (to have his paintings purchased and displayed by museums, galleries, and private collections), 2002.
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Stass Shpanin was born on May 16, 1990 in Baku – capital of Azerbaijan, one of the Soviet Republics. From the age of four, he started to study art seriously with a professional artist-teacher T. Keasar. In 1995 he went to the school # 49 of Baku. From 1999 to 2004 he studied in the "Intellect" Lyceum in Baku.
In 1997, one of the major galleries in Baku hosted the first personal art exhibit of the young artist.
In May 1999, Shpanin was invited to Moscow, Russia for the award ceremony of International Arts Contest "Painting – Celebration" where he received the First Prize. The jury under supervision of the President of Russian Academy of Arts, Zurab Tsereteli chose Shpanin’s painting as the best out of thousands of participants works around the world. The award ceremony had been in the State Tretyakov Gallery, one of the main Fine Arts Museums in Russia.
During the same year, Stass Shpanin traveled through Italy where he had two one man exhibits in Oliveto Citra and Salerno.
In 2000, he became a winner of the international art contest among countries of the Caspian Sea organized by UNDP, TACIS, with the support of UNESCO.
In 2001 in the Center for the Arts in the city Netanya, Israel Shpanin had opened a solo art exhibit of his works. The mayor of Netanya, Ms. Miriam Feirberg had been among many guests at the exhibit. During the same year, he won a Cup of Outstanding Recognition of the 16th International Maccabiah Art Competition in Jerusalem. Shpanin participated in an art exhibit in Trua, France.
In 2002, "Energy of Braveness" Museum in Hadera, Israel purchased Stass Shpanin paintings for its permanent public exposition collection.
After professional successes of the artist, the committee of the Guinness Book of World Records decides to name Stass Shpanin as the Worlds Youngest Professional Artist (to have his paintings purchased and displayed by museums, galleries, and private collections), 2002.
In 2003, Gallery 44 of Ellicott City, Maryland hosted an art exhibit of Stass Shpanin artworks. Same year, Stass Shpanin won the Grand Prize of the prestigious arts contest "River of Words" under support of the Library of Congress of the United States. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Hass had presented the award to the artist at the Award Ceremony in the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
From 2005, Stass Shpanin moved to the United States where he continues his art and a career of a professional artist. 2005–2008 he studied at the MacDuffie private school in Springfield, MA. In 2006 there was a personal exhibit of Stass Shpanin paintings at the Umbria Galleria in Boston, MA. In November 2007, a personal art exhibit of Stass Shpanin paintings had been hosted at the Jewish Community Center in Springfield, MA. In June, an art exhibit of Stass Shpanin paintings had been held in the Museum of Russian Contemporary Art in New York.
On October 15, 2007, after Stass Shpanin created his painting "Madonna 11th" in honor of the tragedy of 9/11 the President of the United States George W. Bush had sent him a letter of appreciation for his work. In the public letter to the artist, Deputy Chief of NY police Steven J. Bonano showed appreciation of Shpanin work: "as young artist your accomplishments are to be commended and your interpretation of art is admirable."
In May 2008, there was a personal art exhibit of Shpanin artworks at the Jewish Community Center of Stamford, Connecticut. During the same year, after the invitation of Alla Baratta, Stass Shpanin became a guest in the popular show about celebrities "Vizavi" on the RTVi international channel broadcasting around the world.
From 2008, Stass studied at the Hartford Art School of the University of Hartford, CT.
In February 2009 Shpanin had a personal art exhibit of his artworks at the Jewish Community Center of Scarsdale, New York. In May 2009, there was a personal art exhibit at the Jasper Rand Art Museum of the Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield, MA. In August 2009, Stass Shpanin exhibited his paintings at the Hartford Jewish Community center, in West Hartford, Connecticut.
At the present time, he studies in Connecticut and lives in Massachusetts one of the eastern state of the United States of America.
"The Washington Post" (May 2003) observed that Shpanin, "paints brilliantly hued still lifes and vivid street scenes, draws sure-handed pencil sketches and composes swirling and unsettling abstract images."
National Geographic (May 2004) pointed out "Why he is cool: Stass is the International Grand Prize winner of a River of Words art contest. His winning painting,"The River is the Basis of Life," has three layers: underwater, earth and space. They symbolize how everything is connected to the water".
"The Republican" (November 2007) concluded: "His use of color has been compared to that of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, although the artist said he is partial to the Italian painter Modigliani."
"The Reminder" (April 2009) featured: "He will attend the public artist's reception [Jasper Rand Art Museum] proving that no exhibition is too small for his world-renowned work."