Lezhepyokov Artyom Leonidovich was born in Pyatigorsk in August, 1982. From 1999 till 2004 took a course of study at the Spanish language faculty of Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University, at the same time finished a correspondence course at the law faculty of Oryol Law Institute attached to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Started to take photos in 2005. In 2007 had solo shows in Essentuki, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk. Participated in review competitive photo shows, such as “Palmira of the North 2006”, “My Canon 2007”, “1st International Photo Contest named after Karl Bulla 2007”, “My Canon 2008”, “My Canon 2009”. Took the 1st place in “My Canon 2007” photo contest in the “professional” category.

"For over a hundred years a Pyatigorsk tram follows a narrow gauge, representing predeterminacy of life, which moves along old rails and it seems impossible to leave the track or to change the route signifacantly.

Fear to change something in yourself, to change the route, to stray from the flock, fear because of public judgment, family censure, fear to be oneself, to be a personality in the true sense of the word deprives us of any real meaning of life, which finally reduces itself to a struggle for existence or a rush for expensive glittering distinctions, highlighting our social status. Today we live in the era of  terrible non-conformism, which in fact is a social ideology actively fed by the media, and in which dissimulation as the best method to make one’s way in life foreshadows Russia as “the land of opportunities”. Thus, adapting, wriggling, cutting corners, making others bend and eat the dust (not to be so much frustrated ourselves), we all move in closed ranks to our personal goals and reach one and the same one.

What do photos have to do with it? Nothing. They’re just a waste of time".