Berlin based artist Lev Khesin makes sculpture-like paintings that bring the complex interaction between colour and materiality into focus. 

Defying the sway of linguistic systems Khesin explores the cognitive potential of an art unfettered by concepts imposed on objects and phenomena. 

In a time-consuming process and using diverse tools, he spreads out layers after layers of translucent silicone dyed in a variety of hues, moulding smooth surfaces and rutted structures. Experimentation and discovery are always part of Khesin’s artistic method. Every silicone layer covers the surface of the panel like a film. The number of layers on a painting varies from a dozen to a hundred. Khesin mixes the transparent silicone with different pigments and every layer can therefore differ from the next in terms of color and degree of transparency. 

By painting in silicone enhanced with pigments, Khesin appeals to the senses of vision and touch in equal measure. 

Since 2005 he had numerous solo and group shows in museums and galleries in Germany, USA, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, France, Japan and Australia.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023

Redundancy / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

Solo Show / ArteA, Milan

2021

Genesis / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

Berluti Flagship Store, Paris

2020

Die Welt als Hologram, / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich

2019

Luce e Materia / Artea Gallery, Milan

Inner Forest / Westend Art Space, Melbourne

2018

in focus // out of focus / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich 

Morphologie / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

2017

Apeiron / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich

One-Artist Show / Art Karlsruhe, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Karlsruhe

2016

Neon Black / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

2015

One-Artist Show / Art Karlsruhe, LÄKEMÄKER, Karlsruhe

2014

Dark Matter / LÄKEMÄKER, Berlin

Permutation / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Ulm

Aquacone - Liquid Boundaries / Till Richter Museum, Buggenhagen

2013

Klärt sich das Wasser, werden Fische sichtbar - Teil I. / Kunstverein, Bamberg 

Klärt sich das Wasser, werden Fische sichtbar - Teil II. / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

Stoffwechsel / Galerie im Rathaus Tempelhof, Berlin

2012

Holy Hologram / LAKEMÄKER, Berlin

Oxymora / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Ulm

Elastic Pinioning / Java Haus, Hamburg

2011

Chromophobia / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Ulm

2010

Onomatopoeia / LÄKEMÄKER, Berlin

Lev Khesin / Vattenfall Lobby Hauptbahnhof, Berlin

2009

Atmospheres / LÄKEMÄKER, Berlin

Solo Exhibition / Kunst 09 Zürich, vondöring contemporary, Zurich

Zeitwörter / Institute of Art Function, Fukuoka

The Basic Problem / vondöring contemporary, Schwäbisch Hall

2008

Meta-Tags / Stella Art Foundation, Moscow

Kunststoff / Galerie Hans Tepe, Damme

2007

Malerei / Galerie Kollaborativ, Berlin

Silicone Valley / LÄKEMÄKER, Berlin

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (Selection)

2023

Expoarte Montichiari / Artea Gallery, Montichiari

2022

No Statement Required / Lev Khesin & Minor Alexander / Till Richter Museum, Buggenhagen

Super* / Bermel von Luxburg, Berlin

Le Voyage dans la Lune / Lev Khesin & Wolfgang Flad / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich

The Abstract View / Museum Modern Art, Hünfeld

Coexsistance / Atatürk Cultural Center, Istanbul, Ankara

Five / Westend Art Space, Melbourne

Accrochage / Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim

Out of Office / Farenheit Space, Berlin

Le Voyage dans la Lune / Lev Khesin & Wolfgang Flad / SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich

Micrologies / Irenic Projects, Los Angeles

Going For Baroque / LAProjects, Landshut

Elb/Hängung / Villa Elbchaussee, Hamburg

Biennale d‘arte di Alessandria, Alessandria

LICHT / Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim

2021

Das schönste Bild bei mir zuhaus / Museum Ulm, Ulm

LICHTER | Torster Ruehle & Lev Khesin / Villa Heike, Berlin

Roter Kunstsalon / Museum Villa Rot, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Burgrieden

Painting Now / Thai Mainhard & Lev Khesin / Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim

Orbit / Poimena Art Gallery, Launceston

2020

Salon der Gegenwart, Hamburg

IF :: THen Chris Tille + Lev Khesin / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich

Kunst-Stoff Plastik / Hans Erni Museum, Luzern

Materia / Bermel von Luxburg, Berlin

Image_Object (The Visual and the Physical) / Poimena Gallery, Launceston

Par Surprise / Galerie Corona Unger, Bremen

2019

Nachts alleine im Atelier /, Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

Sam Grigorian, Helmut Zielke, Lev Khesin / LÄKEMÄKER, Ostseebad Wustrow

Art Bodensee / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Dornbirn

Small World / Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne

2018

vis à vis / Barlach Halle K, Hamburg

Art Los Angeles Contemporary / Lazy Mike Gallery, Los Angeles

2017

Berlin Based / Till Richter Museum, Buggenhagen 

Hornig, Khesin, Marx, Nowinka, Ticha / Kunstraum Darß, Born am Darß

Nachts alleine im Atelier / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

Diehl CUBE, Berlin

2016

ABSTRACT WORLDS / Till Richter Museum, Buggenhagen

Roter Kunstsalon / Museum Villa Rot, Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Burgrieden

CONTEXT New York / LÄKEMÄKER, New York 

2015

Nachts alleine im Atelier / Evelyn Drewes | Galerie, Hamburg

DIS# COVER - Janina Roider, Lev Khesin / Galerie SMUDAJESCHECK, Munich

2014

Art from Germany: Between Man and Nature / Till Richter Museum, Buggenhagen

Art Miami / LÄKEMÄKER, Miami

Seen / Unseen / BYCR, Milan

2013

Junge Positionen / Heyne Kunst Fabrik, Offenbach

Duett / LÄKEMÄKER, Berlin

2012

LAYERS - Gabriele Evertz, Lev Khesin and Julia Steiner / Sonja Roesch Gallery, Houston

MATCH - Piet Tyutel, Lev Khesin / Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague

2011

Deux générations, Deux visions / Le Château de Saint-Auvent, Saint-Auvent

2010

Kunst 10 Zürich / vondöring contemporary, Zurich

ZEITges(ch)ehen / Rathaus Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin

MATCHBOX- Lev Khesin, Xuan Wang, Robert Orchardson, Mikolaj Polinski /

Vondöring Contemporary, Schwäbisch Hall

2009

Hello World / Ito Native Art Museum, Fukuoka

2008

Qui Vive? / 1ST International Biennale for Young Art, Moscow

SOMMER / LÄKEMÄKER, Berlin

Small / Marat Guelman Gallery, Moscow

2007

MULTIPLES - VIELFACHES / Cité des Arts, Chambéry

2006

Ausser Haus / Uferhallen, Berlin

2005

Group Show / THE FRAME Gallery, Pittsburgh

PRIZES & SCHOLARSHIPS

2017

Artist-in-Residence / Arthouse Tulum, Tulum / Mexico

2010

Tempelhof-Schöneberg Art Prize / Rathaus Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin / Germany

2009

Artist-in-Residence Scholarship / Studio Kura, Fukuoka / Japan

2008

Project Grant / Stella Art Foundation, Moscow / Russia

2005

NICA Scholarship / Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh / USA

EDUCATION

2007 - 2008

University of the Arts, (UdK) / Meisterstudium, Berlin / Germany

2005

Carnegie Mellon University / Fine Arts, Pittsburgh / USA

2002 - 2007

University of the Arts, (UdK) / Fine Arts, Berlin / Germany

1997 - 1999

Savitsky Art School / Fine Arts, Penza / Russia

1981

Born in Penza, Russia / Since 1999 Lev Khesin lives and works in Berlin