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Oleg Savunov (b. 1983) is a Russian photographer and visual artist from Saint Petersburg. He graduated from Moscow State Pedagogical University in 2006 with a law degree, then studied press photography at the Faculty of Press Photographers of Saint Petersburg, Russia (2012), and continued his education at the Fotodepartament Institute in Saint Petersburg, where most of his current interests developed (2015). In 2023, Oleg received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Stanford University. His work is owned by private collectors and has been exhibited in Russia, Spain, Italy, and the US, and published in magazines such as Amuse, InRussia, The Guardian, F-Stop, Calvert Journal, GEO, and The Village.

Oleg’s photographic practice spans from classical documentary projects to conceptual art projects based on photographic images. Through formal aesthetic and stylistic neutrality, he creates conditions for the viewer to think independently about questions of visual perception, current social issues, and the socio-cultural implications of the landscape. Oleg explores the techniques of photographic investigation to determine how a multi-layered visual narrative can convey information beyond the capacity of language. His artistic practice also includes video and installation works.


Contact Information:

+79151254247
o.savunov@gmail.com


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CV

Oleg Savunov

Born in 1983, Leningrad, Russia

Currently resides in Saint-Petersburg, Russia 


Education


2023
Stanford University, Master of Fine Arts, CA, US

2012
Saint Petersburg House of Journalists, Press photographer diploma, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2006 
Master in Law, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Moscow, Russia

Solo Exhibitions

2025
thousand yard stare, A Space, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2023
17 June 2021/24 February 2022
Minnesota Street Project, Jones Institute Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US

2022
[de]constructed landscape, Uppermarket gallery, San Francisco, CA, US

Group Exhibitions

2024
Counter Cartographies, 2024 Headlands Graduate Fellow Exhibition, ICA SF, San Francisco, CA, US

Artists Pop-up show, Headlands Center for the, Sausalito, CA,US

2023
Life is Ridiculously Awesome, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Stanford Art Gallery, Stanford, CA, US

2022 
Ultraviolent,  pop-up show, Patricia Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US

Mediated Lines, Second Year MFA Exhibition, Coulter Gallery, Stanford, CA, US

2021
Make yourself at home, First Year MFA exhibition, Stanford Art Gallery, CA, US

2019 
Form the first sight, Blooming international digital art festival, Pergola, Italy

Phantasm Figure, international contemporary photography festival Presence, Berthold Center, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2018 

Spacing group exhibition, Quartariata art residency, Petergof, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

2014 
Institute.Production, Center of Contemporary Culture "Change", Kazan, Russia

Red eye effect, Fotodepartament Gallery, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Young photography, Don State Public Library, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

2013
On the block, New Holland exhibition space, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Young photography, Selected, Baltic Photography Biennial Photomania, Kaliningrad, Russia

2012 
Below The Surface - Young Photography, Mayakovsky Public Library, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Catalonian Institute of Photography (IEFC), First overseas group exhibition of St.Petersburg Faculty of Press Photographers, Barcelona, Spain


Awards and Residencies


2025
Traveling and research art residency of Kostroma district funded by Sfera Art Foundation

2024
Winner of Urbanautica Institute Awards
Foam Paul Huf Award Shortlist
Dummy Award ’24 shortlist with Nostalgia For Ruins publication

2023
Anita Squires Fowler Memorial Award in Photography
Headlands Center for the Arts’ Graduate Fellow

2022
Pauline Brown Fund Recipient for Advanced Research in American Art, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

2022 
Artist Grant, 2nd place grant recipient, https://artistgrant.org/

2021
Pauline Brown Fund Recipient for Advanced Research in American Art, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

2017
HIAP Art Residency, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland

2012
Viewbook Photostory 2012: Small Stories, competition shortlist 

Publications

2025
Conditions of productiuon, Der Greif #18

2021
Ozersk, Calvert Journal magazine

2018
Amendment 64, Inrussia Magazine

2017 
Amendment 64Amuse 
Failed InterferenceLandscape Stories 
Phantasm Figure, F-Stop Magazine
Nepal, GEO Magazine

2015 
Failed interference, New Landscape Photography Blog
Inside the zone: otherworldly scenes from a Russian film set Calvert Journal
Inside the zoneThe Guardian

2014 
An island storyCalvert Journal

2013 
On the BlockThe Village magazine

2012 
4.10,  PHOTO/arts Magazine, Self Contained