In 1991, filled with wanderlust and dreams of what he could accomplish, Sergey made the decision to come to America to find the artistic freedom he desired.
Sergey Cherep was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1969. At the age of three, he developed meningitis and became paralyzed, unable to walk or speak for several years. He attended a school for children with disabilities, where he found comfort in painting. He was then enrolled in a school for artists at age eight and went on to attend college at the prestigious Serovo Art Institute.
"School was very disciplined," says Sergey, "we did very traditional things like starting with sketches of balls and squares, then painting still-lifes. The teachers told us what to paint - there was no freedom. There was no such thing as abstract because it was considered very Western and evil. The tuition was free - they gave us the paint, the brushes and the teachers, everything was paid for by the government. Russia went with talent, but once we got our diplomas, we were supposed to get a job and contribute back to society."
Sergey graduated in 1988 when Glasnost was coming in and Gorbachev allowed free enterprise on the street. The young artist painted cityscapes in oil and was forced to sell them through organized crime, giving them 70 percent of his profits. In 1991, filled with wanderlust and dreams of what he could accomplish, Sergey made the decision to come to America to find the artistic freedom he desired.
In 1992, he arrived in Atlanta, Georgia. A Russian friend introduced him to an Emory University professor, who invited Sergey to stay with him. He got a job as a janitor at the IRS building, painted in his spare time, and began to learn English. One day, he showed some of his paintings to his manager, who arranged an art show for Sergey in the cafeteria, and he sold three paintings. Then he found a small frame shop that agreed to display and sell his work, and he was on his way to becoming a full time, working artist.
In 1994, Sergey visited Napa Valley and was enchanted by the vineyards, beautiful landscapes and overall ambiance. His artwork evolved from the darker, traditional style that was prevalent in Russia to a bright, vivid palette depicting land and sea.
"The technique of painting that I have embraced is definitely the Post Impressionism style made famous by Van Gogh," says Sergey. "I love the simplicity of colors and energy found in his work. The bold, unrealistic colors and expressive brushstrokes of my predecessors are my tool as I try to bring a three-dimensional feeling out from the paintings by using color, perspective and texture. My paintings are like fairy tales - a dream place. I don't see things as realistic. I allow the fantastic to happen. When I travel and paint, the sun, the grapes and the smells of California speak to me. But, anything can motivate me - a picture, a watermelon or even a color."
For the past thirty years, Sergey Cherep has worked tirelessly to develop a successful career and a vast following of collectors and fans. He continues to exhibit at art festivals nationwide and his paintings can be found in galleries throughout the US and abroad.