VYALOV Konstantin Alexandrovich

April 6, 1900 (Moscow) — 1976 (Moscow)

Painter, graphic artist, scene-designer, master of decorative and applied arts

In 1914–1917 Vyalov studied fabric painting at the Stroganov School of Industrial Art. In 1917 he continued his education at the State Free Art Workshops under V. V. Kandinsky, V. E. Tatlin and A. A. Morgunov. Later he attended the faculty of painting at the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS); he studied under the guidance of A. V. Lentulov and D. P. Shterenberg. In early 1920s Vyalov created concave reliefs, constructivist sculptures and abstract paintings.

In 1922–1925 Vyalov headed studio of visual arts for adolescents under the National commissariat of education (Narcompros). At the same time he began to work as a scene-designer. He collaborated with different Moscow theatres. In 1923 Vyalov designed the performance Seville Camorra at the Theatre of the Revolutionary Military Council in Moscow. In 1924 he created scene designs for the performance Sten’ka Razin after the play by V. V. Kamensky at the Theatre of Revolution.

In 1925 Vyalov became one of the founders and active members (till 1928) of the Society of Easel Artists (OST), the main principles of which were revolutionary modernity and clarity of subject in painting.

In 1925 Vyalov exposed his works at the International exhibition of fine and decorative arts in Paris.

In 1920s he was engaged in poster and book illustration.

In 1932 Vyalov joined Moscow Regional Union of Soviet Artists (MOSSKh). He made several trips to Kronstadt, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, Sevastopol, Dagestan, Turkmenia, to Urals, in order to gather material for creative work. He depicted industrialization of 1930s in his drawings and paintings.

In 1937–1940 Vyalov worked on the projects for the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition.

During the World War II, Vyalov collaborated with the Window of TASS (the Telegraph agency of the Soviet Union). After the war he was mostly engaged in landscape painting.

Konstantin Vyalov was one of the leading Soviet artists of 1920s–1930s. Vyalov’s early works were painted under the influence of suprematism and constructivism. His manner of painting of the second half of 1920s — beginning of 1930s was characterized by monumentality, dynamism of composition, austerity of colors, expressive lines and contours. Vylov believed his style was like editing of sense, combining poster with telegraphic language of street art. Late works of Vyalov were painted in traditions of socialist realism.

Works of Konstantin Vyalov are in many museum and private collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum and others.