Paloma: Fiodor Sumkin

I love to find new artists which evoque trendy and stylish drawings that inspire you to imagine new worlds. This is what I experienced when I found Fiodor Sumkin a Russian artist now living in between Amsterdam and Paris whose drawings transport you to multiple settings free of judgements, prejudices and brings up the beauty of the human creativity.

"My name is Fiodor Sumkin. I was born in a Byelorussian family of artists. I grew up in Eastern Germany and at the age of 16 I left school. Two years later I moved to Moscow to escape the compulsory army draft. I lived in Russia for 6 years and made my living by drawing and selling my work on the streets.

I also worked as a graphic designer in an advertisement agency. When I turned 19 I became the art director of an important magazine. At 21 with the help of my friends I opened a design studio that still exists today.In 2001 the Creative Department of the Artist Holding Milano invited me to Italy. I worked there for half a year, after that I moved to Rome where I started to paint pictures again and arranged my first single picture-show.

Today my works have spread around the world and you may find them in several American, Japanese and European Collections.The last three years I lived without a passport in Europe. I used the credit cards of my girlfriend and could actually travel for free because there is no much passport control inside of Europe. At present I live with my girlfriend in Paris in a tiny little apartment which officially belongs to my girlfriend because she has got papers".

Sumkin's art is a synergistic blend of lovingly crafted pen & ink watercolors with biting social commentary. Although his typographical work belies the influence of Gothic, Art Nouveau, Wes Wilson and others, Mr. Sumkin remains deliciously unique. One would be hard pressed to chose between his exquisitely designed type and his fresh style of editorial & advertising illustration.