KUDRYASHOV (Kudryashev) Ivan Alexeevich (Alexandrovich)

1896 (Kaluga) — 1972 (Moscow)

Painter, graphic artist, designer, scene-designer

Ivan Kudryashov studied in the Central Stroganov School of Industrial Art (1912), Moscow School of painting, sculpture and architecture (MUZhVZ; 1913–1918), the P. V. Kuznetsov’s workshop, the State Free Art Studios under the guidance of K. S. Malevich (1918–1919); he often followed I. V. Klyun’s advice.

The artist lived in Moscow. He was married to the artist N. K. Timofeeva. In 1918 Kudryashov worked on the design of the agitation cars for celebration of the 1st anniversary of the October Revolution. He was interested in the idea of space flight, due to his father, who worked as a constructor together with K. E. Tsiolkovsky.

In 1919 Kudryashov moved to Orenburg. He worked on the interior design of the First Soviet Theatre (Municipal Theatre). In 1920 he participated in the foundation of the Champions of the New Art (UNOVIS) branch in Orenburg.  He worked for the summer Theatre of the Red Army in Orenburg.

In 1921 Kudryashov returned to Moscow. He created cubistic and suprematist compositions. In 1920s he studied the principles of cross-section of colours and refraction of light in painting. In 1920s he created an extensive pictorial and graphic series Space. In late period of life (1960s), the artist created many variations of his early graphic works (sometimes in colours).

Kudryashov participated in the exhibitions of the Moscow Association of Artists (MTKh), the First Russian Art exhibition in the Van Diemen gallery in Berlin (1922), the First State travelling exhibition of paintings (1925, Moscow — Saratov — Volgograd — Kazan — Nizhny Novgorod). Kudryashov was a member and exhibitor of the Society of Easel Artists (OST) in 1925–1928. After the 4th exhibition of the OST in 1928, the artist did not show his works at the exhibitions.  In 1970 the personal exhibition of Kudryashov was held in Paris.

Kudryashov taught at the Institute for advanced studies of painters and designers in Moscow (1937–1939).

Works by Ivan Kudryashov are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Art Museum of the Republic of Karakalpakstan named after I. V. Savitsky in Nukus and others.