Michael Gregorjev Murn, born in 1994, is a multi-talented artist and entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio spanning painting, drawing, photography, poetry, and sculpture. With over 5,000 artworks, he has held numerous solo exhibitions globally and participated in over 100 group shows. Murn is also the President of AAMI Corporation, overseeing various businesses across multiple countries. He serves as the Art Director at Mega-Graf Ltd. and director of MGM International Business and holds leadership positions in several cultural and business organisations. Additionally, he is a lecturer and board advisor and is actively involved in philanthropic endeavours. Murn’s achievements include being appointed as the Founding President of Rotary Club Ljubljana International and receiving the Knight of Carantanian Order of Saint George.
London, 25th March 2024—Miart Gallery London, situated in Mayfair, was recently awarded the title ‘The Best Gallery or Museum in the United Kingdom 2024’ and named among ‘The 20 Best Galleries And Museums In The World’ by the American Art Awards and World Art Awards, has announced the first UK solo exhibition of Slovenian multi-media artist Michael Gregorjev Murn (MGM). ECHOES’ by Michael Gregorjev Murn will open on 10 May and run until 6 June 2024. Set to be a defining moment in MGM’s artistic journey, the exhibition is the first stop on the artist’s ambitious eight-year global tour, which will involve art fairs worldwide and culminate in a retrospective exhibition in New York. Murn’s inaugural solo UK retrospective will be exhibited at the award-winning Miart Gallery London, a spectacular 560m2 contemporary and modern art centre in the heart of Mayfair on St. James’s Street, London.
Miart Gallery London, as well as being named “Best Gallery or Museum in the United Kingdom 2024” and featured in “The 20 Best Galleries or Museums in The World 2024” by the American Art Awards and World Art Awards, was also named as one of the ‘Top 10 galleries in London 2022’ by London Walks The exhibition will showcase 35 artworks, emphasising MGM’s prowess in abstract paintings and digital graphics. The exhibition’s curation will provide an immersive insight into MGM’s creative evolution and thematic diversity. It will also involve a presentation of his monograph, offering an in-depth look into his artistic endeavours and narratives. Miart Gallery London will present MGM’s first UK solo exhibition in its expansive Mayfair space as part of an ongoing exhibition programme designed to support diverse artistic expressions through its multi-level layout and commitment to bridging Eastern and Western art forms.
Michael Gregorjev Murn describes himself as a ‘hyper-creative artist’. As one of the leading Slovenian artists in the world, he is a prominent ambassador of contemporary art movements in Slovenia. He has an innate understanding of the importance of international activities and the promotion of the arts worldwide. Murn says that his journey as an artist began in 2005 at the tender age of 10 when he decided to pursue his passion for creating in various forms by establishing ‘Atelier Art Murn’: the initial setup was modest, a small plastic table proudly adorned with a sign that read ‘Atelier Art Murn’.
Murn explains: “The complexity within my artworks mirrors the intricacies of my life. Eager to explore everything, learn from every experience, and immerse myself in diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds, I wholeheartedly embrace the unknown.” A multi-disciplinary, multi-faceted artist, Murn is something of a Renaissance man. He doesn’t restrict himself to one medium or creative outlet, applying his artistic talents to painting, drawing, graphic art, photography, poetry and sculpting. It was within this space that Michael’s insatiable curiosity for art took flight. Immersed in the world of creativity, he delved into art movies, voraciously consumed literature on various techniques, and fearlessly embarked on experiments with diverse media. The atelier became a playground for his imagination, where everything from seemingly simplistic ‘dadaistic’ drawings to intricate 3D artworks found its place. Michael’s boundless creativity defied categorisation as he skillfully blended media and styles, showcasing an extraordinary range of artistic expressions. Embracing the ethos of assemblage art, he ingeniously incorporated many objects collected from his relatives and surroundings, weaving together unorthodox combinations that gave birth to intriguing and thought-provoking artworks.
Dr Leyla Mahat, Professor of Kazak National University of Arts, describes him as a polymath: “Universal man, encyclopædist, polymath, Renaissance man is one whose intellectual abilities, interests and activities are not limited to one area of knowledge and a single area of their application, as well as an individual who achieves tangible, practical results in all areas. Much can be written and said about Michael Gregorjev Murn. From a very young age, he was fascinated by all matters of development, creativity, and originality. This amazing individual resembles a Renaissance polymath due to his persistent forward progress, appetite for innovation, and need for continuous development.”
Art critic and curator Richard-Baker Howard describes Murn’s oeuvre: Murn’s work is often created from the perspective of a world ‘as it is perceived, not as it is known’, and in many genres it is distinguished by his ability to construct complex and multifaceted forms, which sometimes foreground metaphysical complications and ambiguities to the exclusion of aesthetics. He seeks to move viewers beyond entirely free-looking and passivity and seek a more immersive and engaged experience. He endorses the opinion that easy cultural forms are a damaging social phenomenon, in as much as they drain the time and energy of participants into activities that are pointless or escapist.”
The Lord German OBE, Member of the House of Lords, says of Miha: “Miha Murn is that great combination of being both an artist and an entrepreneur. He excels in many disciplines as an artist but is always looking forward to opening new vistas and perspectives. As an entrepreneur, he has built a business model that helps art thrive and prosper. He has worked nationally and internationally, enhancing our understanding of artistic developments in Slovenia and building relationships within other countries to expand the routes by which artists can earn their living. Miha has a multi-disciplined creative skillset, shaping the artistic world through this wonderful combination of skills.”
Miart Gallery London was founded by Irem Deniz, an international art consultant and woman of immeasurable knowledge, prestige, and fortitude within the art sphere. The industry’s recognition of Deniz’s expertise is demonstrated by Miart Gallery London’s winning several high-profile industry awards. With a background in international art consulting, Deniz’s curatorial visions and decisions for her gallery have facilitated highly successful exhibitions featuring the works of renowned artists such as Banksy, Auguste Rodin and Wolfgang Stiller. Alongside exhibiting established artists, Irem appreciates emerging artists’ potential and allows them to exhibit their works among the established. Miart Gallery London allows visitors to see artworks by the potential ‘next name’ in art before they are discovered on a larger scale. Hot on the heels of Miart Gallery London’s success, Irem has founded Miart Gallery Istanbul.
Through this expansion, Miart Gallery London will become part of another creative community, thus providing it with the opportunity to collaborate, curate, and exhibit diverse artworks in both London and Istanbul. In addition to the opening of Miart Gallery Istanbul, Deniz founded Miart Fest Istanbul, aiming to universalise the philosophy of art from past to present. Deniz’s vision is to achieve this by combining artworks with music set in historical venues in Istanbul. Fest Istanbul will encourage visitors to embrace Istanbul’s art, culture, and history. Deniz’s experience in the art sphere originates from her former role as an international art consultant. Irem’s extensive contacts and expert knowledge of art enable her, through her business, Miart Gallery London, to provide excellent service to established and new art collectors and create a welcoming environment for art admirers.
Written by Lee Sharrock / [email protected] / www.leesharrock.co.uk
