KRASNOPEVTSEV Dmitry Mikhailovich

The works of art have their own age, but they do not get old.

Dmitry Krasnopevtsev

June 8, 1925 (Moscow) — February 28, 1995 (Moscow)

Painter, graphic artist

In 1942–1947 Krasnopevtsev studied in Moscow Art Institute in the Memory of the Year 1905, under the guidance of A. Chirkov (with interval for military service in 1943–1946). Later Krasnopevtsev worked as a teacher of drawing.

From 1949 till 1955 the artist attended Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov, where he studied under etcher M. A. Dobrov.

Approximately during 20 years Krasnopevtsev worked as an artist in the studio Reklamfilm (“Advertisement film”).

Since 1956 Krasnopevtsev showed his works at the exhibitions in Russia and abroad:

1967 — the exhibition of painting and graphic art from the collection of A. Glezer (Tbilisi);

1970 — the exhibition Nuove correnti a Mosca (Museo Belle Arti, Lugano, Switzerland);

1974 (1979) — the exhibition Progressive Strömungen in Moskau 1957–1970 (Museum Bochum, Bochum, Federal Republic of Germany);

1975 — the Exhibition of paintings of Moscow Artists at the pavilion Apiculture (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy, VDNKh, Moscow);

1976 — Exposition au Musee russe en Exil (Mongeron, France);

1979 — the exhibition Color, Form, Space at Moscow joint committee of graphic artists (MOKKhG) in the Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, 28 (Moscow);

1982, 1983 — the exhibitions at Moscow joint committee of graphic artists (MOKKhG) in the Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, 28 (Moscow);

1977 — Biennale in Venice (Italy).

The first personal exhibition of Krasnopevtsev was held in 1962 in the apartment of the artist’s friend and pianist Sviatoslav Richter. Other personal exhibitions of the artist:

1975 — the apartment of Sviatoslav Richter (Moscow);

1990 — Museum of Contemporary Russian Art (Jersey City, USA);

1992 — the Central House of Artist (Moscow);

1992 — the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow);

1995 — the gallery Nashchokin House (Moscow);

Krasnopevtsev was a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR since 1982.

In late 1950s — 1960s the artist’s main genre in painting was metaphysical still life, which combined the traditions of symbolism and surrealism: simple (often broken) ceramic utensils, dry plants, shells. These skulls of things could be interpreted as poetic symbols of perishable nature and irreality of our visual environment.

“Due to his art, Krasnopevtsev succeeded to gain something that was dearer than all titles and prizes — the name, the reputation, which were being won only by those artists who created their own world and their own style in art. You have only to say ‘Krasnopevtsev’, and his strict compositions–still lifes arise in your mind; they are fruits of deep thinking, unhurried and emotional work of the artist.” (Elena Murina. From preface to the catalogue of the personal exhibition of Dmitry Krasnopevtsev. The Museum of Modern Art. New York. 1990).

In 1992 Dmitry Krasnopevtsev was the first artist who was awarded new informal Triumph Prize.

The works by Dmitry Krasnopevtsev are in the Museum of private collections under the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow; after the artist’s death all his books, different things (stones, shells, dry twigs — the heroes of his still lifes) were carried from his studio to the Museum.

“It is considered that a portrait, painted by the artist, is his self-portrait at the same time. I could say the same about any other compositions, landscapes, still lifes, any genres, and also non-figurative abstract art; it could be applied to any work the artist had painted. He won’t be able to hide himself in spite of his objectivity, dispassionateness, impersonality — the artist’s creation, his style and manner of painting will show his soul, his mind, and his heart.”
(D. M. Krasnopevtsev. From memoirs).