Serge Polyakov (Sergey G. Polyakov) was born in the family of the owner of the stud farm, was the thirteenth child in the family. He spent his childhood in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where he received his primary musical education. In 1919 went to Constantinople with his aunt, a famous singer Anastasia Polyakova. A few years accompanied her on guitar during a tour in Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria. In 1923 he settled in Paris. Until the late 1930s worked in a cabaret. In 1929 became interested in art, began to attend classes at the Paris Academy Froso and Grand Chaumiere. In 1933-1937 he studied at art school Slade in London. In 1931 he exhibited his work in the gallery "Druon" and earned rave reviews from the press. In 1932 he exhibited at the salon of French artists, in 1935 — at the National salon of fine arts. In his work of Poles is first varied academic traditions, find picture motifs in real life. After 1935 he gradually moved from figurative painting to abstraction. This path is largely determined by familiarity with VV Kandinsky in 1937 and friendship with Sonia and Robert Delaunay. In 1937 in the gallery "Zak" held his solo exhibition. In 1938-1945 successfully exhibited at the salon of independents, the salon d'automne in 1942. In 1945 organized a large personal exhibition in the gallery Polyakova "Ecstasy". Despite actively exhibiting, was able to completely abandon the earnings pop musician only in 1952 when he signed a long term contract with the Paris galleries "Bin". In addition to painting often turned to the technique of collage and color lithography. In 1957, issued in an abstract manner the ballet "Counterpoint" by M. constant. In 1947 he was awarded the prize Kandinsky. Work Polyakov received numerous awards at the international Biennale in Italy (1955), Tokyo (1965), Menton (1966, Grand Prix). In 1962 he took French citizenship, he became an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and letters. In the same year received at the Biennale in Venice a private room. In abstract painting the Poles developed their own recognizable style: his painting is built on contrasts large whimsical-defined geometric patches of color. The artist used a warm reddish-yellow, Golden tone. Giving great importance to colour, he sought to create his own paint, a special way preparing and mixing pigments, as well as paying significant attention to the beautiful textures. His late paintings of the 1950s and 1960s, more monochrome and restrained in color.
The son of a Kirghiz horse breeders and studied painting in Moscow in 1918 he left Russia in 1920 he arrived in Constantinople in 1923 through Sofia, Belgrade, Vienna and Berlin made it to Paris. Played guitar in a Paris cabaret. In 1929 he entered the Academy of the "Grande Chaumiere" in 1935-1937 he studied in London.
Met with V. V. Kandinsky, Sonia and Robert Delaunay, Otto Freundlich, under their influence came to non-figurative painting. First solo exhibition was held in 1945. In 1947 he was awarded the Kandinsky prize. In 1962 the works of Polyakov was assigned a room at the Venice Biennale in the same year he became a citizen of France.
