The Trust approached the Siberian Fair in Novosibirsk to assist in finding an artist whose work was suitable for the collection and acceptable to the Trustees. The Curator and Bryan Montgomery visited Novosibirsk in 2003. The visit was hosted by The Siberian Fair. We were assisted by Stanislav Okhvat who worked for the Fair. There is not a dedicated Art College in Novosibirsk so we visited the Architectural Faculty of the University and the Art Department of the teacher training institution as well as the British Council in Novosibirsk. The terms of the residency state specifically that we were seeking a recent graduate and eventually we saw a number of artists’ work and eventually Dmitry was selected.

The Project was complex. It required the help of ceramicists with available kilns and we are grateful for the help of Buckinghamshire University, Robin Welch and in particular Heather Paul of the Queens Park Centre in Aylesbury. She was instrumental in helping the artist obtain materials and kiln space at Bucks Chiltern University and with Robin Welch, an eminent ceramic artist who live sin Suffolk.

A private viewing was held on 28 August to which local ceramicists and neighbours were invited.

The artist was able to visit many galleries and exhibitions during his stay in the UK and has subsequently returned to Novosibirsk, obtaining a teaching position and also married in the following year.

To read Dmitry Khozyaikin's Press Release, please click here