Isupov, Sergei (b. 1963, Stavrapole, Russia, lives in MA) graduated from the Art Institute of Tallinn, Estonia in 1990 with a BA/MFA in Ceramics. In 1994 he immigrated to the United States. Isupov has a long international resume with work included in numerous collections and exhibitions, including the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (TX), Museum of Arts and Design (NY), Racine Art Museum (WI) and Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MA). His work is featured in numerous books, catalogs and magazines including Postmodern Ceramics, Sex Pots: Eroticsm in Ceramics, The Ceramic Surface; Shy Boy, She Devil, and Isis: The Art of Conceptual Craft; Confrontational Ceramics. He teaches workshops and lectures internationally at museums, universities and art centers. Recent residencies include Archie Bray Foundation, Helena (MT), The International Ceramics Studio, Kecskemét, Hungary and Guldagergaard, International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark. In 2001 was awarded the Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Award. He works in porcelain using traditional hand building and sculpting techniques to combine surface and form with narrative painting using stains and clear glaze.
Painting, sculpture and pottery annex under Isupov’s hand, the artist seeking to insert visual information at every level of an object’s surface and detail. “To Kiss”’s figurative balance — two heads caught in a moment of de-gendered intimacy — finds an elegant and dreamlike contrast in the qualities of surface and position. The painting tattooed across their cheeks suggests much deeper running (implicitly feminine) sexual fantasy or implication, Isupov’s careful detail finding a remarkable communion between 2d and 3d location.