Erik Bulatov Autoportrait (2011) Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Marking his return to the UK after 25 years, Russian artist Erik Bulatov is set for his first London exhibition since a show at the ICA in 1989, a comprehensive exhibition at 3 Grafton Street.

Taking over the curatorial reins, de Pury de Pury and Kasia Kulczyk have selected over 30 recent paintings, works on paper, and preparatory sketches for the exhibition title, “BOT.”

Erik Bulatov BOT, Here (2001)
Photo: Jean-Louis Losi

Recently commissioned to paint two large-scale murals at Moscow’s newly opened Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, the show comes amid a resurgence of interest in Bulatov’s trademark bold and colorful paintings that draw on Soviet symbolism and propaganda, juxtaposing ironic and humorous themes with political imagery.

“BOT” is the second exhibition presented by curators Kulczyk and de Pury at 3 Grafton street after a show featuring Polish artist Wojciech Fangor in December 2014.

Erik Bulatov Entrance-no-Entrance (1973 – 1995)
Photo: Courtesy of the artist

“We are thrilled to be staging Erik Bulatov’s first exhibition in London since 1989,” de Pury de Pury co-founder Simon de Pury said in a statement.

“Ever since I first worked with his pieces while auctioneering for the groundbreaking 1988 Sotheby’s auction in Russia, which marked the first sale in the country since the 1917 revolution, I have loved his work.”

Kasia Kulczyk added “As was the case with our previous exhibition held at 3 Grafton Street, which was devoted to the great Polish artist, Wojciech Fangor, our passion is to show work by important Eastern European artists that had hitherto only little exposure in London.”

Erik Bulatov Perestroika (1989)
Photo: Courtesy of the artist

“BOT” represents the culmination of the artist’s rediscovery which has been gathering momentum since his inclusion in the Guggenheim’s “Russia!” exhibition which was shown in New York in 2005, and Bilbao in 2006.

The show’s preview will be accompanied by a talk with Bulatov moderated by Hans Ulrich Obrist.

“BOT” runs from October 6 – December 4, 2015 at 3 Grafton Street, London.