Igor Bitman belongs to the Russians who have chosen to live in France.
Bitman places himself strongly in the Great Tradition, the one illustrated by Petrov-Vodkine for example or Balthus. Far away from expressionism, "Bitman is seeking the classical permanence, that is to say the duration, through an effort of will and understanding, as an opposition to the spectacular rapidity." (Max Fullenbaum)

Awards :

Dagnan-Bouveret award of the Institut, Académie des Beaux-Arts, 2000
E. Rugal Michailov Award, Taylor Fundation, 1999
Duc Valverde Award at the XXXIIth Contemporary Art Fair in Monte Carlo, 1998
Gold medal ath the French Artists Fair, 1997
Grand Prix at the Paul-Louis Weiller Portrait contest of the Institut, Académie des Beaux-Arts, 1995
Silver medal at the French artists Fair, 1994
Special price of the Jury at the Paul-Louis Weiller Portrait contest of the Institut, Académie des Beaux-Arts, 1993 

Personal exhibitions :

1982 : Galerie Magie de l'Art, Montréal, Canada
1984 : Centre d'Art de la Ville de Montréal, Canada
1986 : Galerie John Daniel, Montréal, Canada
1988 : Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
1988 : Galerie des Platanes, Geneva, Swiss
1994 : Galerie Mailletz, Paris, France
1997 : Galerie François Barlier, Paris, France
2000 : Galerie Visconti, Paris, France
2001 : Galerie de Twee Pauwen, The Hague, The Netherlands
2002 : Galerie Visconti, Paris, France
2003 : Galerie Forni, Bologna, Italy
2006 : Retrospective Panorama Museum, Germany

Main Fairs and Collective exhibitions :

1973-76 :  Various exhibitions of non official painting, Moscow, Russia
84-85-86:  International annual Painting Fair, Palais des Congrès, Montréal, Canada
1986 :        Saidye Bronfman Center, Montréal, Canada
1988-89 :   Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
91-93-95:   Exhibitions of works selected for the Paul-Louis Weiller Portrait Award
                  Académie des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
1992-99 :   New Biennal of Cachan, France
94-97-99:  French Artists Fair, Paris, France
1996 :        France-Japan-Tokyo L'Art Actuel, Tokyo, Japan
97-2005 :   Salon d'Automne, Paris, France
98-2007 :   Salon Comparaisons, Paris, France
1998-02 :   Exhibition of works selected for the International Contemporary Art Award, Monte Carlo
1999 :        Salon 109, Paris, France
2001 :        A century of Jewish painters, Espace Rachi, Paris, France
2001 :        Homage to Serge Gainsbourg, Galerie Francis Barlier, Paris, France
2001 :        The wandering Europeans, Galerie Forni, Bologna, Italy
2002 :        Contemporary Art Fair, Strasbourg, France
2004 :        Contemporary Art Fair, Bologna, Italy

Galleries :

Galerie François Barlier, Paris, France
Opera Gallery (Paris, London, Venice, New-York, Singapore)
Galeria Forni, Bologna, Italy