ART IS ALIVE is an independent editorial platform launched in London in 2007, connecting curious minds with contemporary culture. Restructured in 2016, the online publication was conceived for an eclectic audience and covers news from across the full spectrum of the arts.
ART IS ALIVE features exclusive interviews, a digest of creativity from around the world, and “moments of digital contemplation.” Oh, and lots of David Bowie.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2017, ART IS ALIVE has featured exclusive interviews with Tilda Swinton, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Marianne Faithfull, agnès b, Bella Freud, Django Django, Barnaba Fornasetti, and Banks Violette, alongside fascinating conversations with Helena Christensen, Louis Fratino, Doron Langberg, Paul Smith, Maripol, and many other talents.
The title references James Whale’s 1935 film The Bride of Frankenstein: after tireless experiments, Henry Frankenstein succeeds in bringing his bride to life and famously cries, “She’s alive! Alive!” It’s also a nod to the punk-era rallying cry “Punk Is Dead.”
“I believe there are no boundaries between contemporary art, fashion, architecture, design, music, dance, and performing arts.” — Nicolas Smirnoff, 2007
Nicolas Smirnoff grew up in Arles and then Marseille, in the South of France, and has previously worked with Christie’s, dOCUMENTA (13), curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev and Chus Martinez, Pace Gallery, and Magnum Photos.
During his tenure at Pace Gallery, Nicolas oversaw the launch of the gallery’s London, Paris, and Geneva locations, produced three catalogues: Alexander Calder: The Calder Prize, Hoyland, Caro, Noland and Lee, and Ufan: From Point, From Line, From Wind, and worked on more than 50 exhibitions by artists including James Turrell, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Robert Irwin, Alexander Calder, Lee Ufan, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Jean Dubuffet, Louise Nevelson, Zhang Huan, Julian Schnabel, Loie Hollowell, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Adam Pendleton, Adrian Ghenie, and more.
He relaunched Magnum Gallery in 2021, also supporting the opening of its Paris gallery, and curated three exhibitions during this time: Herbert List’s Metamorphoses, Matt Black’s American Geography (presented in London), and There’s No Place Like Home. Nicolas served on the jury of the 212 Photography Istanbul Award in 2021.
In earlier roles across London, Barcelona, and Paris, he delivered campaigns and strategic advice for private and public clients including the LUMA Arles, Lazarides Gallery, promoting shows by Invader and Vhils, Art Dubai, the Sharjah Biennale, Museion, Yvon Lambert Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Arts among other international projects.
He has also contributed news and reviews to The Art Newspaper, Flash Art, Vernissage Magazine, Neo2, and The Mia Journal. In 2023, Nicolas wrote an essay on visual artist Santiago Evans for his solo exhibition Voyeuristic Intentions at Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, Belgium. He has been quoted in Frieze and Beaux-Arts magazines.
A regular speaker at Christie’s Education, Sotheby’s Institute, the Contemporary Art Society, Goldsmiths University of London, and Artiq, Nico currently sits on the board of the charity Art Night and is a former Trustee of Siobhan Davies Dance.
Nicolas can also proudly claim to have taken James Turrell’s first selfie.
