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Semyon Bilmes is the founder and Master Instructor of the Academy. Born and educated in Russia, he graduated from the prestigious A. Azim-Zade Academy of Art in Baku. Semyon immigrated to New York in 1980 where he also graduated from the Parson’s School of Design.
His classical education allowed him to rapidly achieve national recognition as an advertising, editorial, and book illustrator. Over the years Semyon Bilmes illustrated campaigns for AT&T, CBS, General Mills, Warner Lambert, Smirnoff Vodka, Citibank, Clairol, Western Union, Alaska Airlines, and Phillip Morris to name a few. His work can be found on the covers of books and periodicals such as Reader’s Digest and the New York Times. His oil painting, “Lady in a Red Turban”, graced the cover of the annual directory of top illustrators and designers in the country, American Showcase.
As a successful artist, understanding the problems of present day art education, Semyon founded the Bilmes Art School, where for ten years he taught art with a commercial emphasis. Eventually, Semyon had a vision of a real Academy that would continue the best traditional art education. He found Ashland, Oregon to be the perfect setting for such a school, where he acquired and renovated a large building for the Ashland Academy of Art.
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