Chelishchev Pavel Fedorovich

December 21, 1898 (Moscow) - July 31, 1957 (Rome, Italy)

painter, graphic artist, set designer.

Original art education in the monastery's icon workshop. In 1918 he moved with his family in Kiev, where for two years (1918-1919) took lessons from Alexandra Exter and A. Milman. It also became acquainted with such young artists as N. Shifrin, and AG Tyshler; been influenced by the ideas of constructivism and cubism. In 1919, commissioned by the theater KA Mardzhanashvili (Mardzhanov) has complied with costumes and scenery for the musical comedy "The Geisha" Sidney Jones, in the processing of Ivan Carrillo (statement was not implemented). In 1920, through Sebastopol went to Constantinople. In 1920-1921 he worked on a number of theatrical productions BA Knyazev, as well as the six performances of the ballet troupe VP Zimin. In 1921, not long lived in Sofia, where for Russo-Bulgarian publisher designed the book "Exodus to the east. Premonitions and achievements. Adoption of the Eurasians. In August of that year he moved to Berlin, where in the early 1920's there was an extensive colony of Russian artists: AP Archipenko, KL Boguslavskaya, IA Puni, MZ Chagall, SI Sarsuns and so on. During a joint exhibition in the gallery of famous writer and art critic Hervarta Walden "The Storm" became acquainted with Archipenko and Puni, at the end of 1921 - with El Lissitzky. Berlin Chelishchev worked for the cabaret "Blue Bird", the Russian romantic theater, and theater Keniggrettsershtrasse. In 1922 he worked on the costumes and scenery for the film "The Pagoda" for the film studio "Olga Chekhov film. In 1923 he created the design production of the opera-ballet "The Golden Cockerel" by Rimsky-Korsakov for the Berlin Opera. In most works for the theater influenced by the lessons Exter. At the same time Tchelitchew, apparently, came to the concept of an organic reality, where each spherical object, like life itself. " The dynamism of his designs, often constructed on the basis of a spiral or circular pattern with bright color spots, is one of the most salient features of his art.

In 1923 Chelishchev left Berlin and settled in Paris where he worked as a painter-decorator by Sergei Diaghilev, Ballet issued the "Ode" (1928), put on the stage Sarah Bernhardt. In Paris, the artist got carried away in astrology and the occult, began to paint in a surrealistic manner. He quickly gained fame not only an outstanding theatrical decorator, but also a painter. This in no small measure contributed to the Autumn Salon 1925: some exhibited there still lifes Chelishchev were purchased Gertrude Stein.

In 1926 Chelishchev met with Christian Berard, and entered the union led by him "neoromantikov. In 1936-1938 he created a picture of the "Phenomenon" (Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery), and in 1940-1942 - "Hide and Seek" (New York, Museum of Contemporary Art). These paintings became the most famous of his works in painting.

In 1930 the artist has worked with many especially D. Balanchine ballets designed the "Wanderer" F. Schubert (Theater des Champs Elysees, 1933), "Magic" WA ; Mozart (the Russian Ballet, Monte Carlo, 1936 and 1938), "Orpheus" by Gluck H.-W. (Metropolitan Opera, New York, 1937), "Apollo Musagetes and balustrade" I. F . Stravinsky (Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, 1940).

At the beginning of World War II Chelishchev moved to New York. In 1949 he returned to Europe and settled in Frascati, near Rome, to the end of his life while working in the style of surrealism.

artist is buried at Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris (originally - on the porch of the Orthodox monastery in Frascati).

creative biography Chelishchev can be divided into two phases. First, before his departure from Berlin, is associated with an interest in cubism and constructivism. Second, after moving to Paris, features the proximity of a master surrealist. In addition, the main activity masters up until 1923 was almost exclusively the chart (easel, book, theater), paintings of this time did not have much success. Paris and, especially, the New York times, however, distinguish the numerous scenic experiments, which are equally as it works for the theater, are an expression of his creative views and artistic conception.

Chelishchev works are found in many museums in Russia, Europe and the U.S. - the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Paris, the Museum of Fine Arts, San Francisco Art Museum, Harvard University, National Portrait Gallery in Washington, the Tate Gallery in London, as well as in many private collections.

lifetime artist's solo exhibitions were held in London (1928, gallery Kleridzh, 1933, gallery Tus), Paris (1929, Gallery Pierre, 1931, gallery Balzac, 1954 and 1956, the gallery of the Left Bank), Brussels ( 1956, Palace of Arts), Rome (1956, gallery Obelisk), New York (1934, J. Levy Gallery, 1937, Museum of Art, Smith College, 1942, Museum of Modern Art), Chicago (1935 and 1938, Chicago Art Club), Buenos Aires (1949, Museum of Modern Art), Detroit (1951, Art Institute of Chicago). In the 1960's - 1970 memorial exhibition was arranged in Paris, London and New York. In addition, Chelishchev is the exponent of such major exhibitions as "symbolic realism in American painting. 1940-1950 "(1950, London, The Institute of Contemporary Arts),« The art of 1940's "(1992, New York, Museum of Modern Art) and many others.