SCHEKATIHINA-Potocki (nee Schekatihina) Alexandra

May 30, 1892 (Aleksandrovsk now Zaporizhzhya) - October 23, 1967 (Leningrad)

artist arts and crafts, graphic artist, painter, set designer.

Born in a family of merchants, the Old Believers. She graduated from high school in vitality. In 1908 she moved to St. Petersburg, to take the examination at IAH, but not received. In 1908-1915 she studied at the Drawing School of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts in St. Petersburg at the Nicholas Roerich and Ivan Bilibin. In 1910, together with his high school sweetheart, Maria Lebedeva, traveled to North Russia. While a student engaged in paintings of the church in Talashkino.

From 1912 started to work in the field of theatrical-decorative art, has created costumes for the ballet Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" for the Russian Ballet Diaghilev ( general registration of Nicholas Roerich). He has designed the opera "Snow Maiden" by Rimsky-Korsakov and "Rogneda" AN Serov for Opera SI Zimin in Moscow.

In 1913 traveled to Europe: visited Greece, Italy and France. In Paris, studied at the Academy Fields Ransona led by Maurice Denis, F. and P. Vallotton Sérusier. In 1915 she married lawyer NF Potocki (widowed in 1920).

Since 1915 participated in the exhibitions "World of Art". In 1918-1923 worked at the State Porcelain Factory in Petrograd. In her sketches were written many articles painting, in particular dish "on Ivanushka Humpbacked Horse," tray "flying angel and a baby, tea and coffee service" Snow Maiden ". The most famous artist brought propaganda porcelain.

simultaneously worked in the state central wardrobe workshops. She has sung the costumes for the opera "Demon" by Anton Rubinstein for theater SI Zimin (1919), the scenery and the curtain for the opera "Sadko" by Rimsky -- Korsakov Petrograd for the People's House (1920). In 1919 exhibited his works at the First State Free Exhibition of Works of Art in Petrograd.

In 1923 he was sent for six months in Germany to get acquainted with the production of the Berlin porcelain factory. Of the trip did not return. Together with his son from his first marriage Mstislav went to Cairo in Bilibin, who soon became her husband. In 1923-1925, together with Bilibin traveled to Egypt, Ethiopia, Syria, Palestine. Established in Egypt, a series of porcelain oriental theme: Arabic and Persian ceramics, cups "Ancient Egyptians", cups and saucers "Modern Egyptians". She has sung the costumes for the number "Dying Swan" by C. Saint-Saens for Egyptian tours by Anna Pavlova.

In August 1925, together with Bilibin and his son settled in Paris. In 1926 the gallery Dryue held her first solo exhibition. Worked for the Sevres and Limoges porcelain manufactories. She practiced as set design, portrait drawing, easel painting, painted fabrics, developed model clothes. Completed illustrations for books "Taras Bulba Nikolai Gogol (1927)," The Adventures of Pinocchio "by C. Collodi (1933), the collection" Slavic myths "(1933).

In the 1926-1934 year exhibited his work in the Salon d'Automne in Paris in 1931 - in the cabin Tuileries. Attended the last exhibition "World of Art" in the gallery Bernheim. In 1925 porcelain Schekatihinoy-Pototskaya exhibited in the Soviet Division International Exhibition of art and decorative arts in Paris and was a Medal of Honor.

In 1936, together with Bilibin and his son returned to the USSR, resumed work at the State Porcelain Factory under the direction of NM Suyetin. In 1937, together with Bilibin created costumes and scenery for the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" by Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in Leningrad State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.

During the Great Patriotic War, met a group of china "Single combat Mstislav the Brave with Rededeyu" vase "Alexander Nevsky" and "Dmitry Donskoy". In 1944 the 200 anniversary of the plant was awarded the Order "Badge of Honor". In the postwar years, worked on porcelain for mass production.

in 1955 in Leningrad, took a big solo exhibition of the artist. In 1977 a memorial exhibition was held Schekatihinoy-Potocki and Bilibin.

Schekatihina-Pototskaya - a master of arts and crafts of the first third of the twentieth century. Her own recognizable style that is different compositional freedom, graphically, the expressiveness of the line and at the same time extraordinary colorful and decorative, formed under the influence of modernist aesthetics, creativity of the artists' World of Art, Cubism and Suprematism experience. The artist was among those who created the artistic language of propaganda porcelain.

In his works he sought to synthesize the aesthetic and functional qualities of everyday objects.

Works Schekatihinoy-Pototskaya found in many private and museum collections in Russia and abroad, particularly in the State Russian Museum, State Hermitage Museum, the State Central Theater Museum im. AA Bakhrushin.