Andrey Akimov (b. 1971, Moscow) is a Russian photographer and educator specializing in landscapes, still life, and conceptual art. His career spans analog & digital photography and tactile relief prints, bridging visual and sensory experiences. A graduate of the Geology Faculty at Lomonosov Moscow State University (1993), he has been actively involved in photography since the mid-1990s. His professional path is closely tied to the magazine Foto& Video, where his portfolio and first articles were published in 1999. He served as an editor from 2006 and was the editor-in-chief for the final issues of the magazine in 2015.
Key Areas of Activity:
- Analog & Digital Photography | Conceptual Art | Tactile Relief Prints: Specializing in landscapes, still lifes, and conceptual art that challenges traditional boundaries.
- Pioneer in tactile relief photography: bridging visual and sensory experiences.
- Educator: Has been teaching photography since 2004, including educational programs at the IGUMO Institute, nurturing the next generation of photographic storytellers.
- Authorship: Over 150 publications on creative, historical, and technical aspects of photography in Russian media.
- Exhibition Practice: Participant in international projects, including PHotoESPAÑA (Madrid, 2023), Pingyao International Photography Festival (China, 2024), and group exhibitions at the Tretyakov Gallery, Russian Museum of Photography, and others. Among his personal projects are “White Wings” (2023) and “The Fossil” (2020–2021).
- Expertise: Member of the jury for competitions, including the “Photobook of the Year” award (2016) and the Russian Orthodox Church’s photography competition.
- Representation: Represented by Galería Silvestre (Madrid), showcasing contemporary visual narratives.
He resides and works in Moscow, continuing to combine his educational and artistic activities.
EDUCATION
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Geology, 1993
- The structure of the film, Mitta Film School, Moscow, Russia, 2015
- The art of lighting in photography and cinematography, Mitta Film School, Moscow, Russia, 2015
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Photographers from Belt and Road Countries Focusing on Beijing, Beijing, China, 2018
- Editor-in-Chief, Foto& Video Magazine, Moscow, Russia, 2015–2016
- Juror, The Photobook award, The Photoforum Expo, Moscow, Russia, 2016
- Juror, The Faith, Love and Youth, photography contest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow, Russia, 2016
- Photography Expert Group, European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA), 2015
- Head of Image Quality Lab, Foto& Video Magazine, Moscow, Russia, 2011–2015
- Editor, Foto& Video Magazine, Moscow, Russia, 2006–2015
- Contributing Writer, Foto& Video Magazine, Moscow, Russia, 1999–2006
RECOGNITION
- Shortlisted for the all-russian contest of The Union of Russian Photo Artists “PhotoSoyuz.Unity” 2021
- Selected for Descumbrimientos PHotoESPANA2019
- Switzerland Tourism Media Award 2015
- Switzerland Tourism Media Award 2011
TEACHING
- Senior Lecturer at the photography department, Institute for the Humanities and Information Technologies IGUMO, Moscow, Russia, 2018 to present
- Photography tutor at Floreal Center, Moscow, Russia, 2014-2016
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
- White Wings, PHotoESPAÑA 2023 Festival Off program, Galería Silvestre, Madrid, June 01 — July 22, 2023
2021
- The Fossil, IGUMO Gallery, Moscow, December, 2020 — January, 2021
2019
- The Wishing Well, St.Tatiana Church at Moscow State University
2018
- The Wishing Well, House of Writers, Tarusa, Russia
FAIR BOOTHS
2019
- Galería Silvestre at Estampa Contemporary Art Fair 2019, Madrid, Spain
GROUP SHOWS
2025
- SELECTION, Izmailovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia, April 30 — May 25, 2025
- ASÍ QUE PASEN DIEZ AÑOS, Galeria Silvestre, Madrid, Spain, November 16, 2024 — January 25, 2025
2024
- Left Hand / Right Hand. The New Still Life. — Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP 2024), China, September 19-24, 2024
- Worldviews, The exhibition of works by teachers and photography students of IGUMO, Russian Museum of Photography, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, January 25 — February 18, 2024
- Pics worth printing, Izmailovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia, January 3 — February 3, 2024
2023
- FotoTop — Portrait 2023, Exhibition and festival of contemporary Russian photography, Gallery of Classic Photography, Moscow, November 22 — December 17, 2023
- The Game of Square, The exhibition of modern art, Gallery of Classic Photography, Moscow, August 2 — September 17, 2023
- Oblique Strategies, DOCA-2023, Days of Contemporary Art Festival, IGUMO, Moscow, Russia, April 25–26, 2021
- The New Monochromes, IGUMO Gallery, Moscow, Russia, April 4–14, 2023
2022
- FotoTop — Still life 2022, The exhibition of contemporary Russian photography, Gallery of Classic Photography, Moscow, April — July, 2022
- Photo-2022, Izmailovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia, May 18 — 29, 2022
2021
- The Young Ancient Suzdal, Gallery Of The Archbishop’s Palace, Kremlin, Suzdal, Russia, December 3, 2021 — January 16, 2022
- FotoTop 2021, The exhibition of contemporary Russian photography, Gallery of Classic Photography, Moscow, June — September, 2021
- The Six Names, Nigde Krome art-space, Mosselprom building, Moscow, Russia, July 23 — August 10, 2021
- PHOTO here, Izmailovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia, May 27 — June 20, 2021
- Upside Down, Interactive installation camera obscura, DOCA-2021, Days of Contemporary Art Festival, IGUMO, Moscow, Russia, April 25–26, 2021
2020
- One, Two, Three… a Stone, a Mouse And Other Counting Rhymes by Andrey Akimov and Jeff Moorfoot, online exhibition, PhotoVisa. Club of Friends, October, 2020
- Reencontro, Galeria Silvestre, Madrid, Spain, June 16 — July 22, 2020
2019
- Book of Nature, State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, November 14, 2019 — April 19, 2020
- Сontemporary art auction and exhibition, Litfund auction house, Winzavod, Moscow, Russia
- Photoyear, Izmailovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia
- DOCA-2019, Days of Contemporary Art Festival, IGUMO, Moscow, Russia
- Dreamport, Qinghezhongjie, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- New World Department Store, Chongwenmen Street, Beijing, China
2018
- Belt and Road Journalists Forum, Beijing, China
- Photoyear, Izmailovo Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2009
- Emoveo, A3 Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2008
- Chukotka — close and distant, The St. Petersburg Photo Fair, St. Petersburg, Russia
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- FotoTop 2023. Album Of Contemporary Photography: PORTRAIT, 2024
- The Fossil. — BETA developments in photography, Issue 38, 2021
- FotoTop 2021. Contemporary Russian photography, 2021
- IGUMO Gallery Catalogue, 2021
- From pixels to silver. — Foto& Video, 2015, №9-10, September-October
- Beyond the edge. — Foto& Video, 2015, №5-6, May-June
- Lens as an application. — Foto& Video, 2014, №7, July
- Absolute freedom. — Foto& Video, 2013, №7, July
- The Russian Daguerre is found! — Foto& Video, 2012, №2, February
- The cross polarization. — Foto& Video, 2011, №8, August
- The all shades of red. — Foto& Video, 2009, №11, November
- The broad prospects. — Foto& Video, 2009, №1, January
- The Kexholm regiment a hundred years later. — Foto& Video, 2008, №11, November
- The Panoramic Pleasure. — Foto& Video, 2005, №1, January
- Portfolio. — Digital Photo Book (Special of Mobile News Review), 2004
- The Foggy Nature. — Foto& Video, 1999, №5, May
- Portfolio. On the Island of the Snow Giants. — Foto& Video, 1999, №1, January