Unique Piece “Sunset Miror” ‘2003’ by Michel Kiriliuk

This unique and original piece of art was sculpted by Michel Kiriliuk. Born French and self-educated this sculptor, interior designer and painter describes himself as a futuristic and constructivist ultra-baroque designer.
Kiriliuk uses brass, iron and glass highlighted with brass brazes and silver brazes in order to bring a true plastic effect. The glass slab is cast on a sand bed – for a thickness from 22mm up to 70mm – before being engraved, smashed and polished. The artist also works with shagreen, scales, rock crystals.

A straightforward sculpture
Each of Kiriliuk’s work are unique and original. The artist employs direct techniques. He is the sole actor of the making despite the variety of techniques : arc welding, silver braze, brass braze, acid patina, engraving and polishing of thick glass slabs.

Michel Kiriliuk was born in Casablanca in 1952 from a Russian father and an Italian mother. He leaves school aged 16 to learn manual work in a workshop. He learns the craft of cabinetmakers and soon restores antic pieces. The first piece of furniture he designs is an aluminium bar bought by Amercian collectors. Since then, Michel Kiriliuk has been a designer, a sculptor and an interior designer.

Kiriliuk’s work develops its difference from artistic movements, it is truly original and multifaceted. Each piece of furniture, each object, each sculpture is a unique piece.

The artist produces furnitures, tripod lamp posts, wall lights as well as sculptures strictly speaking.

Kiriliuk works from home, outdoors no matter the season. On a workbench the cold forming metal is shaped with the hammer and the anvil. To produce twists the artist uses a blowtorch and a hammer – as a flint – to smash pieces of glasses. Each element is designed in his mind and cut out but never drawn on paper. The base is made of metal and brass to be enriched following his inspirations. The first part, when making the base, is particularly fast contrasting with the ornamental part, slower and giving free rein to his imagination.

This is when the goldsmith dimension starts, when he looks for diverse combination of materials and patinas to reach his perfection. Today the artist assures us he has no more troubles with the technique, however, he still seeks to be certain of the final appearance because « it’s a gift for the others ».

« Technique allows us to transform intentions into reality. But only the power coming out of the piece gives it an emotional value ». M. Kiriliuk

Michel Kiriliuk participated to numerous fairs :
– 1990. SAD in Le Grand Palais, Paris
– 1995. Beach Plaza Monaco
– 1996. City Hall of the 20e arrondissement, Paris
– 1997. SAD Porte de Versailles, Paris
– 1997. City Hall of Fontainebleau, Les 10 Jours de l’Art Contemporain
– 1998. Salon d’Automne, Espace Eiffel Branly, Paris
– 1999. Ateliers Z for the Who’s Who, Switzerland
– 2000. Salon d’Automne, Espace Eiffel Branly, Paris
– 2001. Salon d’Automne, Espace Eiffel Branly, Paris
– 2002. Salon d’Automne, Espace Eiffel Branly, Paris
– 2002. SAD Carousel du Louvre, Paris
– 2003. Salon d’Automne, Centenaire du Salon, Espace Auteuil, Paris
– 2004. Art en Mouvement, Courcouronnes
– 2004. L’Homme au Cœur de l’Art Contemporain, Niort
– 2004. Salon d’Automne, Espace Charenton, Paris
– 2005. Salon Espace Eiffel Branly
– 2006. Salon d’Automne, Palais des Congrès, Montreuil.