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Ad Code: 4
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An example of work by Vasiliev (Vas) Nini
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| A sculptor in styles ranging from Realism, to Expresssionism to
Abstraction,Vasiliev “Vas” Nini was born in Albania but moved his
family and his studio to America. Nini sculpts in
varied medium including, but not limited to marble,
granite, stone, wood, bronze, metal, and chrome. He searches for
mediums that support his creative vision. The sculptures are a variety
of scale, sizes, textures, colors and mediums.
He attended Jordan Misja High School, Branch of Sculpture, in Tirana,
Albania from 1969 to 1973. The Jordan Misja High School is a
highly regarded Fine Arts school in Albania. From 1975 to 1979 he
attended college and graduated with distinction from the Higher
Institute of Arts, Branch of Monumental Sculpture, Tirana,
Albania. After college graduation he opened a studio.
Nini’s sculpting expanded through projects for the Ministry of
Education and the League of Writers and Artists of Albania from 1979 to
1984. Some projects in chronological order are: 1982 Triptych of
Monumental Sculpture, Museum Erseka, Albania; 1984 Monument of Helmes,
Skrapar, co-author Albania; 1985 Monument Kordelja (Ribon) dedicated to
the Women’s Institute, co-author, Tirana, Albania; 1986 “A Woman
Singer” a park sculpture, Tirana, Albania; 1988 “A Woman Swimmer” a
park sculpture, National Park Sports Center, Tirana, Albania; 1992
Memorial Dedicated to the martyrs of Palokaster Village, Gjirokastra,
Albania; 1997 a regular participate at the National Art Gallery,
Tirana, Albania; 1999 Monument of Jakov Xoxe, Fier, Albania. A
large number of Nini's sculptures are exhibited and owned by the
National Gallery in Tirana, Albania. His sculpture is displayed
in art galleries of Fier, Erseke, Bajam Curri, Gjirokaster, Peshkopi,
Elbasan and Berat, all of Albania. The scale of the work is no
concern to Nini. He enjoys creating on any
scale, and he places his smaller sculptures on pedestals.
Nini developed into a specialist at the Center for the Implementation
of Art Works in Tirana, Albania from 1984 to 1992. Here he taught
fine art students for eight years. Then he joined the Albanian
Radio-TV, Tirana, Albania in 1992. For three years he worked for
them developing communication skills by lecturing. Then from 1997
to 2002, he lectured at the Academy of Fine Arts-Branch of Figurative
Arts in Tirana, Albania.
The artists international exhibitions are: 1979 Erseka, Albania; 1980
Gjirokaster, Albania; 1986 Peshkopi, Albania; 1994 Gjirokaster,
Albania; 1995 Collective exhibition, Bari, Lece, Italy; 1995 Private
Collective exhibition in the International Center of Culture, Tirana
Albania; 1998 Autumn in Tirana, Hall, Euro Park, Rogner Hotel, Tirana,
Albania; 1999 Den Hague, Holland; 2001 Autumn in Tirana Hall, Euro
Park, Rogner Hotel, Tirana, Albania.
Then his American career started: 2003 Louisville Art Gallery,
Nebraska, USA; 2004 Hot Shop Art Center-Barker Studio Project Omaha,
Nebraska, USA, 2004 Bellevue University, Nebraska USA, 2004 Louisville
Art Gallery, Nebraska USA, 2004 Hot Shop Art Center Open House, May and
December, Omaha, NE, USA, 2004 Hot Shop Festival of Art, Omaha, NE USA,
2004 Open House Artists Impressions, Ralston, NE USA; 2005 Collective
Exhibition Hot Shop Art Center, Tsunami Relief, Omaha, NE USA, and 2005
Personal Exhibition, Albanian Embassy, Washington, DC.
Nini’s commissioned works are internationally owned and exhibited: In
Europe, he became widely known and among his collectors are Queen
Beatrix of the Netherlands. His work is in the following places:
1990 Park sculpture, Catanzaro, Italy; 1991 Park sculpture,
Awuafirmoza, Italy, Statute of Mother Teresa, Tuz, Montenegro,
co-author; 1999 sculpture, in the private collection of the Queen
Beatrix of Holland; 1999 statue in Albanian Embassy in Den Hague,
Holland; 2001 Washington DC USA Albanian Embassy statue; 2001 Memorial
of 4 Martyrs Sculpture, Rotkoc, Kosova; 2001 Memorial Ismet Jashari,
Prizren, Kosovo; 2002 statue of Mother Teresa, Prishtin, Kosovo; 2002
private school Flatrat e Dijes, Sculpture, Fier, Albania. His American
owned commissions are 1997 statue for the USA Albanian Embassy,
Washington DC; 1998 statue of Mother Teresa, Bronx, New York, USA; 2002
statue of Mother Teresa, Detroit, Michigan, USA and 2005 statue for
Albanian Embassy, Washington DC, USA.
Nini was acknowledged with awards for artistic achievement in 1981,
1983 and 1985 for sculpture at Gallery of Art in Tirana, Albania.
In 1986 he won first place in National Competition for Park sculpture
in Tirana, Albania. He won third place in 1996 in sculpture
awarded by the Onufir National Exhibition National Art Gallery, Tirana,
Albania.
Nini won First Place in the National Competition for the Monument of
Overthrowing of the Dictatorship in Tirana, Albania in 1996. When the
sculpture was unveiled the artist realized his connection with people.
The sculpture is chrome lightning bolts striking a base of bronze
representing Albania, a country in change. The statue is
displayed in a garden representing growth and beauty.
In 2002 his life and career took a dramatic change. Nini moved to
Omaha, Nebraska, USA in search of the American dream for his family and
his art. Upon arrival he painted in watercolor the autumn colors
of Nebraska’s trees. This picture of arrival is displayed with
pride in his Nebraska home. His new American studio is in the Old
Market of Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to doing sculpture, he
also does life mixed-media drawing, combining espresso, pencil, ink and
sugar.
Nini’s work in America seems freer and more expressive because of his
passion for his new country. He feels that the American
commissions provide him with opportunity to explorer new ideas,
continue his work, and raise his family.
EXHIBITIONS: AMERICA
2007 Private Show at Artist Studio, March, Omaha, NE USA
2007 Material, Material Hot Shop Art Center, 9 Solo Artists, February 9-25, Omaha, NE, USA
2006 Private Show at Artist Studio, December, Omaha, NE, USA
2006 Hot Shop Art Center Open House, May and December, Omaha, NE, USA
2006 Nebraska Art & Artists Exposition and Sale, December, Omaha, NE, USA
2005 Collective Exhibition Hot Shop Art Center, Tsunami Relief, Omaha, NE USA
2005 Personal Exhibition, Albanian Embassy, Washington, DC.
2004 Hot Shop Art Center-Barker Studio Project Omaha, Nebraska, USA
2004 Bellevue University, Nebraska USA
2004 Louisville Art Gallery, Nebraska USA
2004 Hot Shop Art Center Open House, May and December, Omaha, NE, USA
2004 Hot Shop Festival of Art, Omaha, NE USA
2004 Open House Artists Impressions, Ralston, NE USA
2003 Louisville Art Gallery, Nebraska, USA
EXHIBITIONS: INTERNATIONAL
2001 Autumn in Tirana Hall, Euro Park, Rogner Hotel, Tirana, Albania.
1999 Den Hague, Holland
1998 Autumn in Tirana, Hall, Euro Park, Rogner Hotel, Tirana, Albania
1995 Collective exhibition, Bari, Lece, Italy
1995 Private Collective exhibition in the International Center of Culture, Tirana Albania
1994 Gjirokaster, Albania
1986 Peshkopi, Albania
1980 Gjirokaster, Albania
1979 Erseka, Albania
Awards Acknowledgement of Artist Achievement
2006 Nebraska Art & Artist Exposition and Sale, First Place, Marble Sculpture
1996 Third Place Sculpture, Onufir National Exhibition National Art Gallery, Tirana, Albania.
1996 First Place National Competition, Monument of Overthrowing of the Dictatorship, Tirana, Albania
1986 First Place National Competition, Park Sculpture in Tirana, Albania
1985 National Gallery of Art, Sculpture, Tirana, Albania
1983 National Gallery of Art, Sculpture, Tirana, Albania
1981 National Gallery of Art, Sculpture, Tirana, Albania
Biography based on personal interview October 2, 2005 by Janet G. Smith.
Exhibitions and commission information based upon the artist’s resume.
Introductions and additional exhibit information provided by Linda
Nini, Lori Stevens, Isabella Threlkeld and other private American
collectors.
Written and submitted by Janet G. Smith, art consultant, art historian,
art authenticator and independent curator, www.jgsart.com
Copyright October 2005 Janet Gwendolyn Smith
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