Bio:
Varvàra Fern is an artist and sculptor. Born in 1999, she grew up in Moscow, Russia and has been sculpting since her early childhood. She entered Moscow Academic Art Institute, named after V. I. Surikov, where she studied classic and figurative art. Varvàra transferred to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and sculpture. While currently living and making art in Philadelphia, she is continuing her education through PAFA’s Master of Fine Arts program. Varvàra is an elected member at the National Sculpture Society. She has had her works exhibited in numerous galleries throughout the USA, including at National Sculpture Society, Arch Enemy Arts, and Gross McCleaf Gallery.
Artist statement:
I consider my art to be emotion cast in a moment. There is certainly something magical in a fleeting image of an idea or of a feeling spellbound into a permanent state of existence. I believe there is only one way to create unique art, that is to make it deeply personal. My work is an exploration of different topics through emotions and feelings.
I create sculptures inspired by various themes that capture my attention. Some of my art is a reflection of my own life experiences, and some originates from my sense of fascination and an irresistible desire to explore an idea or an experience resulting in an independent series of artworks.
Emotions and feelings are the most important aspects of my art. I try to show not just the subject that I find thrilling, but the way I feel about it or the way I see it through my own experience. This helps people to see things through my eyes and through my impressions.
I work in oil based clay. I’ve been sculpting with oil based clay since my childhood and this material is like a language that I fluently speak as it allows me to give form to all my ideas. Oil based clay is one of the best materials to make casts. So, this medium is perfect to shape images and further experiment with other materials casting my pieces in resin, plaster, and bronze.
Solo exhibitions
2023 On a journey, Crane Arts (Crane Local Gallery), Philadelphia PA
2019 Soul of Nature, Earth Motion, Moscow House of Culture Gaydarovets, Moscow, Russia
Two person exhibitions
2023 Journey towards hope (with Gary Weisman), Philadelphia Episopal Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA
2023 February Show, Crown of Creation, Philadelphia, PA
Group exhibitions
2024 Celestial Bodies, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2024 Small Favors 2024, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2024 Young Sculptors Exhibition, National Sculpture Society, New York, NY
2024 Women Artists Group Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, New York, NY
2023 Small Worlds, Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
2023 In a Good Light, FMC Tower, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Frigus, Eclipse Center for Creative Community, Lansdale, PA
2023 Under 500, Maryland Art Place, Philadelphia, PA
2023 WEST, Grindhouse, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Naæta, Eclipse Center for Creative Community, Lansdale, PA
2023 Meet and greet, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Formation, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Summer show at CultureWorks, a DVAA exhibition, CultureWorks, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Let me know you are alright, Charles Addams Fine Art gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Waffles & Wine art show, Old City Jewish Art Center, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Pancakes & Booze Art Show, Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Walk around Philadelphia, Cherry Street Pier, Philadelphia, PA
2023 No Place Like, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Ground Re-Opening, Plays & Players, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Walk around Philadelphia: A Manifesto, Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 The Smallest Sound in the Smallest Space, Nancy Manchurian’s cell theatre, New York, NY
2023 Making Magic, Aaxalta (Navy Yard), Philadelphia, PA
2023 Inside a Memory, Visionary Art Collective, Online
2023 Wait for the Moon II, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Gallery 8, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2023 MIXT: A Living Gallery, The Cell Theatre, New York, NY
2023 Wanderlust, Online
2023 Walking the Edge, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia, PA
2023 The Plastic Club Annual New Members’ Show, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Small Worlds, Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Holiday, Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Small Wonders, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 89th Annual Award Winners Exhibition, New York, NY
2022 Food for Thought, District Arts, Frederick, MD
2022 Far Away Places, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2022 Small Show, Gallery 46, Baton Rouge, LA
2022 November Group Show, Jones Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2022 Big Little Art Show, Peninsula School of Art, WI
2022 Small Works, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
2022 Something Borrowed, Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Blue Show, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 LittleSCULPTURE, International Sculpture Center, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Emerging Artists Show, Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Metamorphosis, FMC Tower, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Portals, Axalta Coating Systems, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Spotlight Showcase, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Once Upon a Place, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Young Sculptor’s Exhibition, National Sculpture Society, NSS Gallery, New York, NY
2022 Portraits, LightSpace Gallery
2022 Pet Dreams: Part II, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2021 Bacchanal, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2021 Art from Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Abstraction plus, Marina Tsvetaeva House-Museum, Moscow, Russia
2019 Literary Associations, Moscow Exhibition Hall, Moscow, Russia
2018 Narrations and Fairy Tales and Winter Solstice, Chertanovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Awards/Honors/Scholarships
2024 Fantasy Fountain Fund Award, National Sculpture Society, NY
2023 Finalist, Young Artist Award, Boynes Artist Award
2023 Venture Fund Award, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Honorable Mention, Small Show, Gallery 46, LA
2022 The NSS Bronze Medal and John Cavanaugh Memorial Prize, National Sculpture Society, New York, NY
2022 Elected Sculptor Member of the National Sculpture Society, New York, NY
2022 Perez and Mary Epstein prize, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Don Sabath Award, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Stewardson Figure Modeling Competition, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Venture Fund Award, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Fantasy Fountain Fund Prize, National Sculpture Society, New York, NY
2020 Dean’s Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2020 President’s Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Winner of the VIII Stroganov Olympiad in nomination of “Sculpture”, Moscow, Russia
2016 Encouragement Award, “Russia-Greece” Competition for the sculpture composition “Vakhi”, Moscow, Russia
Collections
PAFA Fellowship
Exhibitions Curated
2022 Once Upon a Place, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Press/Reviews
2024 Sculpture Quarterly, Spring 2024 Issue
2023 CanvasRebel
2023 Sculptureview, Vol. LXXII № 1, Spring 2023
2023 Suboart Magazine, Issue 4th, April 2023
2023 Chill Local Arts & Entertainment, February 16, 2023
2023 The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 25, 2023
2023 Collide, Issue 3rd, April 2023
2022 Artistonish, 27th Issue, October 2022
2022 Collide, Issue 2nd, November 2022
2022 Fine Art Connoisseur, November 2022
2022 Sculptureview, Vol. LXXl № 2, Summer 2022
Education
2022 - present, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, MFA
2020 - 2022 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, BFA, Sculpture major
2017 – 2020 Moscow State Academic Art institute named after V. Surikov, BFA, Sculpture major
2013 – 2017 Moscow Academic Art Lyceum at the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, Sculpture major