Mihail Chemiakin was born in Moscow in 1943 and studied art at the famous Repin art academy. His remarkable talent and insatiable hunger for innovations led him to challenge the establishment. In 1971, Chemiakin left the Soviet Union and settled in Paris where his unique imagery was already familiar to European collectors. It was in Paris that he produced his Carnival at St. Petersberg and his Metaphysical Series, which are among his most renowned periods, proving a mastery of color and form. In 1980, Chemiakin moved to New York where he presently resides and continues his work. Today, his artwork is featured in all of the major cultural centers of the world. Chemiakin's explosive career has led him to be one of the most acclaimed contemporary Russian artists in the world.

Surreal images bombard our consciousness as we view the painting "Still Life with Horse". While a grey horse rears its regal head in the background, a plethora of strange shapes address us in the foreground, ranging from a stylized human skull to a one-eyed mask, from a tall upright amphora to a horse head lying detached on its side. While all of the images cluster cohesively in the center of the painting, each displays its own unique individuality and heightened sense of purpose.