Pegasus, we’re delighted with the portrait you’ve made for the club of Artem Dzyuba, it’s amazing! But we’d like to know more about you, what made you make the portrait for us?
As a Zenit fan I wanted to create a piece for Zenit and Artem, something that shows him in motion and making him look very much the superstar. He is a fantastic talent and I wanted to honour him!
How did you start following Zenit? It seems strange that an artist from London likes a Russian club.
A good friend of mine got me interested in the blue-white-sky blues, I like watching all kinds of football and my friend was a student in St. Petersburg in the early 2000s, he started following Zenit while there. Later on we watched a few matches together and it was around the time that Zenit had that classic team that won the UEFA Cup in 2008, so it all started through a friend and I’ve kept an eye on the club since then!
We know you as Pegasus but you keep your real identity secret, why is this?
I am only semi-anonymous, I have never felt the need to be a completely anonymous artist. I like the interaction I get with my followers and the people who attend my shows. I only keep my real name and address a secret because I am not always Pegasus, on my down days I like a bit of privacy.
How did you become an artist and create your own unique, individual style?
I was an artistic child growing up but I started my street art career after the passing of my friend Amy Winehouse. The first time I'd picked up a spray can was a day after she passed away. I created a very simple, single layered stencil in tribute to her in London. For a year after I spent a long time watching talented street artists paint on the streets and taught myself whilst developing my own techniques along the way.
You often get called the “new Banksy” how does that make you feel?
It is extremely flattering to be mentioned in the same breathe as Banksy. He is revolutionary and a living legend who has paved the way for all us artists.
Do you have a favourite player? Who do you like in the current squad?
Artem Dzyuba! That’s why I chose him as the subject of the portrait, I like his style of play at the way he gives Zenit a focal point in attack, he reminds me of a classic English style centre forward. I also hear he’s a really funny guy and the joker of the club! I also like Andrei Arshavin, Oleg Shatov, Yuri Zhirkov and Pavel Pogrebnyak all very talented Russian players that I admire.
Artem isn’t the only celebrity you’ve painted and produced art for, can you tell us about some of your other celebrity subjects?
It always feels surreal when we have been contacted by a huge named and asked to create a painting for them. I’ve painted portraits for A-list stars such as Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian and Adele. My celebrity checklist will not be complete however until I have painted for Madonna and Lady Gaga.
Will you be coming to watch us in our new stadium soon?
St. Petersburg is such a beautiful city and an amazing place to visit. I really hope I’ll be there soon, maybe for the first match at the Zenit Arena, I’m also planning on visiting the gallery the painting is displayed it (Novy Museum)
Will you be creating any more Russian or Zenit related art?
As you know I am a huge fan so it's already on my agenda!
You can find out more about Pegasus and his art on his website here and to view his Artem Dzyuba portrait head to the Novy Museum, 29, 6th Line V.O.
