Vladimir Comelfo

Vladimir Fomichyov was born in 1953 in Leningrad. In 1976, he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Engineering Institute, and in 1983, from the School of Visual and Graphic Arts of the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in Leningrad where he met his future artist wife Natalia Melnikova. In 1985, the two founded the CoMELFO (COmpany of MELnikova and FOmichyov) art duo. Vladimir currently lives and works in St. Petersburg.

CoMELFO’s most renowned project was the first ever art show in the Antarctic. Comprising 54 graphic works by the duo, the open-air exhibition was held on 31 December 1999 at Bellingshausen Russian Antarctic Station. In memory of his wife who passed away in 2003, Vladimir Fomichyov continues to work under the moniker of Vladimir Comelfo.