Petro Aesthetics, Ilya Slak

Place: Zhukovsky

Born: 1984

Biography:

Petro Aesthetics, also known as Ilya Slak, is a Russian street artist born in 1984 in Zhukovsky near Moscow. He is one of the famous representatives of the 'street wave' artists who has been painting on walls for over 20 years. Petro is the founder and member of the Aesthetics Group duo. His current eclectic style combines various concepts, including applied art and architecture. Moving away from graffiti fonts compositions, Petro concentrated on geometric abstraction. He participates in major festivals, exhibitions, and projects in Russia and abroad. Petro has taken part in residences such as 'Graffiti analysis' (2010), 'Week-End RAW Circles' (2013), 'Dukley European Art Community' (2015), 'Uppa Winery' (2019 and 2021), and 'Art Station' (2021). In 2010, he organized a screening of graffiti films in Moscow and St. Petersburg: ‘Flashback’ (RUS), ‘Aevus’ (RUS), ‘Endstation’ (UKR). Petro founded and organized the Sign Your Style Graffiti Festival from 2012-2014. He was awarded the MOST Awards street art festival in the nomination 'Street Contribution. Artist of the Year' in 2013. In 2013, he curated the street festival '33 Edges of Perception'. The exhibition 'Dualism', a joint project with Ilya Slak, took place in Moscow in 2014. Petro became the co-curator of the Russian part of the 1st Artmossphere Street Art Biennale in 2014 and coordinator of the Russian part of the II Artmossphere Street Art Biennale in 2016. In September 2021, the Ruarts Foundation presented his solo exhibition 'Form'. Petro's work represents a true expression of style that evokes the aesthetics of Russian Constructivism and Suprematism, putting him in the avant-garde of the Russian graffiti scene.