PAKHOMOV Alexey Fedorovich

1900 (Vologda province) — 1973 (Leningrad)

Painter, graphic artist

Alexey Pakhomov was born to a peasant family. Local landowner noticed art facilities of young Pakhomov and sent him to study in Petrograd.

In 1915–1917 Pakhomov attended the Central School of Technical Drawing of Baron Alexander Stiegliez — the High workshops of decorative and applied arts. He studied under the guidance of N. A. Tyrsa, S. V. Chekhonin and V. I. Shukhaev. Since 1920 Pakhomov studied under V. V. Lebedev. He worked in the Windows of ROSTA (Russian Telegraph Agency). In 1925 he graduated from the faculty of painting at Leningrad department of the Higher Art Technical Institute (VKhUTEIN), where he studied under A. I. Savinov.

In 1926–1931 Pakhomov was a member of the association Krug Khudozhnikov (“Circle of Artists”). Pakhomov was engaged in monumental art (frescos), in graphic art (book illustration, poster, drawing, lithography), later — in sculpture.

Pakhomov was one of the significant soviet graphic artists. He illustrated a lot of children’s books by N. Nekrasov; I. Turgenev; L. Tolstoy, including Filippok (1968–1970), Alphabet (1970–1972) and others; by S. Marshak; V. Mayakovsky; N. Ostrovsky; L. Panteleev; M. Zoshchenko and folk fairy tales. He drew a series Leningrad during blockade (1942–1944).

Pakhomov lectured in the I. E. Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture; he headed workshop of easel graphic art.

Since 1921 Pakhomov participated in different art exhibitions in USSR and abroad: in USA (1925), in Japan (1927), the Venetian biennale (1930), the 30th International exhibition of painting (1931–1932, USA) and many others. In 1937 Pakhomov was awarded gold medal at the International exhibition in Paris. Personal exhibitions of the artist were held in Leningrad (1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1951, 1960, 1970, 1973), in Moscow (1960, 1970) and in other cities of USSR.

Pakhomov was conferred the title of the People’s artist of USSR. He was a member of the USSR Academy of Arts. He was also laureate of the State Prize of USSR.

Works by Alexey Pakhomov are in many museum collections in Russia and abroad, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, the museums of Arkhangelsk, Kaluga, Novosibirsk, Petrozavodsk, Pskov, Smolensk, Tambov and Tver.