Michael Cheval (American, b. 1966), Flexible Maneuver

Oil on canvas, 2001, signed at lower right, inscribed to the verso, presented in a contemporary giltwood frame.

Stretcher size 20 x 32 1/2 in.; Frame dimensions 23 5/8 x 36 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Ron W. Djuren, Durham, North Carolina

Michael Cheval is a contemporary surrealist artist and founder of the "Absurdist" movement. In his definition, “absurdity” is an inverted side of reality, a reverse side of logic. It is a game of imagination, where all ties are carefully chosen to construct a literary plot. Any one of Cheval’s paintings is a map of his journey into illusion. His work is often metaphorical and requires a sharp eye to decipher the hidden allusions.

Born in a small town in southern Russia, Cheval developed a passion for art in his early childhood. When his family moved to Germany in 1980, the Western European culture made an impression on the young artist. In 1986, he moved to Turkmenistan and graduated from the Ashgabad School of Fine Arts. Absorbing Eastern philosophy and the character of Central Asia, he began working as an independent professional artist, shaping his style and surrealistic direction. He immigrated to the United States in 1997. In 1998, Cheval became a member of the prestigious New York National Arts Club, where he was distinguished with the Exhibition Committee Award in 2000. He has also been a member of the Society for Art of Imagination since 2002.

Good estate condition.