Mikhail Karasik

Graphic artist, painter, publisher, curator, book artist. One of the leading creators, ideologues and promoters of the artist’s book in Russia, who has published dozens of books and catalogues on artist’s books and early-twentieth-century Russian avant-garde culture. Born in the family of Semyon Karasik in Leningrad (1953). Studied painting and graphic art at the Alexander Herzen Pedagogical Institute in Leningrad (1971–76). Created autolithographs and limited-edition artist’s books (from 1987). Member of the Union of Artists (1988) and the Gutenberg Society (1993). Curated the Kharms Festivals of Experimental Art in St Petersburg (1995–98) and such exhibitions of artist’s books as Paper Theater in St Petersburg (1992, 1994), The Book Garden in Great Britain (1995–96), Contemporary Russian Artist’s Book in the United States (1998–99), Bookcamera or The Book and The Elements inSt Petersburg (1997) and Hamburg (2001), The Artist and The Book in Russia 1910–1930 … Russian Artist’s Book 1990–2000 in Frankfurt-on-Main (2000) and The Latest History of Russian Artist’s Book in St Petersburg (2002). Died in St Petersburg (2017). Contributed to exhibitions (from 1978), including Play and Passion in Russian Fine Art at the Russian Museum in St Petersburg (1999–2000), Jesus Christ in Christian Art and Culture (14th to 20th Centuries) at the Russian Museum in St Petersburg (2000), Abstraction in Russia: XX Century at the Russian Museum in St Petersburg (2001–02) and Collage in Russia: XX Century at the Russian Museum in St Petersburg (2005–06).