A Conversation With Artist Sergey Vershin

By inside + out | October 13, 2023

Exquisite Corpse is a fascinating exhibit now on display at the Everett and Treadwell building in Kingston, running through October 29th. The exhibit follows the journey of seven artists/collaborators with one rooted seed – queer culture: past, present, and future. The concept for Exquisite Corpse was Inspired by a game from the ’20s when it was adopted as a technique by artists of the Surrealist movement to generate collaborative compositions.

INSIDE+OUT catches up with artist Sergey Vershin to talk about his journey as an artist and his participation in this collaborative, Exquisite Corpse, exhibition. Let’s hear what he has to say…

+ + +

Where are you originally from, and how does that affect your work?

Being from Russia, known for its communist regime, I was unable to fully express myself. This definitely has affected my work. In America, I feel free to do any art. My art can be controversial, but the irony is that my subject matter is found on social media platforms.

Who are your biggest artistic influences?

Social media and the way we communicate and connect now in our LGBTQ + community.

Tell us about your work as an artist.

I have always expressed myself via an art form, but after taking art classes, my work has become more focused, and my medium has become more acrylic-based. I now apply this learning when I am creating a piece that is inspired by what strangers post on their social media.

What was your reaction when you were invited to participate in Exquisite Corpse?

I was so excited and on Cloud 9. I have known Abraham for a few years now. We have talked about my art on many occasions, and he definitely influences me in a more productive way. This show was an opportunity for me to create with a goal and purpose in mind. The game seemed fun on paper, and it has been even more exhilarating to actually participate in it.

Tell us about your experience collaborating with the participating artists – were you intimidated, excited and/or inspired to add to someone else’s work?

I was definitely excited, and my subject matter would change when I saw someone’s contribution, but still, I kept true to the root of my subject–posts from within our community’s social media.

Exquisite Corpse Artwork by Sergey Vershin, Abraham Cruz and William van Roden

Artwork by Sergey Vershin + Abraham Cruz + William van Roden

Describe your creative process for this project, and did this change or evolve with each session?

This is similar to the questions above. I would try to alter my mental state when starting a piece, and the way it evolved was by searching deeper than the first impression of the initial idea.

What was your goal in participating in Exquisite Corpse, and do you feel you’ve accomplished it?

My goal was really to prove to myself I can create alongside other artists and to have a good time in the process. I had so much fun during this time and became more involved in the community of artists within the LGBTQ+ community.

What impact do you hope this exhibit has on the audience?

Mostly, my art was created to celebrate the beauty of human anatomy. Sex positivity and body positivity are huge topics in our vernacular today, and I hope I help the viewer to love one another’s anatomy even more. I like breaking some social norms.

Do you believe art can affect societal issues?

Absolutely. It’s exactly what I meant in the previous question- exposing social issues through art is almost inevitable being a queer artist.

What are you working on now that you’re excited about?

I’m currently building my software engineer career as I seek more topics to explore on my canvas. I have some ideas I am working out before I start my next series.

+ + +

Follow Exquisite Corpse @exquisitecorpse2023

Sergey Vershin is a Brooklyn based artist. He was born and raised in the early days of post-Soviet Russia, a decade when people had hope for ultimate freedom and democracy. As for Sergey, he had his yearning to live and express himself and his sexuality freely. He moved to the United States as an asylee in 2009 after experiencing homophobia and the oppression of human rights in Putin’s Russia. After years of being a part of LGBTQ+ life in New York City, Sergey continues to explore gay sexuality and its perception by society. His thirst for art led him to receive formal education and training in Art History and Studio Art at Hunter College CUNY, where he practiced his skill as a painter, experimenting with different mediums and incorporating his background in computer science into traditional and digital art. As a subject of his latest work, Sergey chose the modern form of communication, texting, and social media. Every one of us is a content/digital creator, and how we communicate can take on many forms, blending the fine lines between self-expression, porn and soliciting. Revisiting the question, “Is it porn or art?” It’s Art.