In 1920s–1930s Goncharov worked as a scene-designer. He designed the performances The Italian Straw Hat by E. Labiche (1924, the Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre, Moscow), Death of Mr. Marapit by K. Davidovsky (1927, the 4th studio of Moscow Art Theatre, MKhAT, Moscow; in collaboration with Y. Pimenov), Mstislav the Daring by I. Prut (1932), Soldiers by B. Romashov (1933, both — in the Central Theatre of Red Army, TsTKA, Moscow).

Goncharov participated in making film Laurels for Ms. Helen Grey (Record, 1935, film studio Vostok-film).

Goncharov was engaged also in monumental painting. He together with group of students of the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS) designed walls of the club in Ruza town in 1921. He painted panel The Abduction of Europa (1929) for foyer in Moscow theatre-studio under the guidance Y. Zavadsky, panel Concert at factory for the Soviet pavilion at the World exhibition in Paris (1937), panel Cotton (1939) for pavilion at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition and others.

Goncharov lectured in Moscow State University (department of fine arts at the faculty of ethnology), in the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS) — the Higher Art Technical Institute (VKhUTEIN) in 1924–1926 (assistant of V. Favorsky at the course of graphic art). He taught at the art courses in the Frunzensky district department for people’s education (1927–1929), in VKhUTEIN (department in Leningrad, 1929–1930), in Moscow Polygraphic Institute (1930–1934, 1948–1979), in Moscow Institute of Fine Arts (MIII, 1934–1938), in the Institute of the advanced trainings for graphic artists under Moscow Municipal Committee of graphic art (1938–1940), in Moscow Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts (MIPiDI) at the faculty of monumental painting (1948–1949). In 1958 Goncharov was conferred the title of professor.

Goncharov participated in different exhibitions: the First State travelling exhibition (1925, Moscow, Saratov, Stalingrad, Kazan, and Nizhny Novgorod), exhibition Engraving of the USSR for 10 years (1927, Moscow), the Exhibition of works of Art by the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution (1928, Moscow), the Exhibition of German artists (1928, Berlin), the First travelling exhibition of painting and drawing (1929, Moscow), the exhibition of modern graphic art (1929, Yerevan), jubilee exhibition Artists of the RSFSR for 15 years (1932, Leningrad; 1933, Moscow), art exhibition 15 years of RKKA (RKKA — Workers’–Peasants’ Red Army; 1933, Moscow; 1934, Leningrad, Kiev; 1935, Kharkov), the exhibition Industry of Socialism (1939, Moscow), Heroic front and rear (November 1943 — September 1944, Moscow), the All-Union art exhibitions in 1947 and in 1950 (both — in Moscow), the exhibition of painting, drawing, sculpture and scene-design in Moscow and Leningrad (1955, Moscow), the exhibition of painting, drawing and sculpture to the First All-Union congress of Soviet artists (1957, Moscow), the exhibition 40 years of VLKSM (VLKSM — the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League; 1958, Moscow) and others.

Works of Goncharov were often exposed at exhibitions abroad: international exhibition Art of the Book (1927, Leipzig, Nuremberg), exhibition Graphics and book art in the USSR (1929, Amsterdam), Modern Russian Art (1930, Vienna), exhibition of Soviet graphics and book art (1930, London), exhibition of Soviet Art (1930, Berlin), international exhibition Art of the Book (1931, Paris; 1932, Lion), the 18th International exhibition of arts (1932, Venice) and others.

In 1937 Goncharov was awarded gold medal and Grand Prix at the World exhibition in Paris.

In 1943–1945 he worked in the magazine Frontovoy Yumor (“Frontline Humor”). Later he was art director of the exhibition Political work in units of the 3rd Belarusian front.

In 1950s–1970s Goncharov was engaged not only in painting and drawing, but in monumental art, book graphic art and scene-design.

Goncharov was the author of several books on art: Art of graphic art (1960), Artist and book (1964). In 1969 he was conferred the title of Honoured Art Worker of RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic). In 1973 he became corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Arts. In 1979 Goncharov was conferred the title of the People’s Artist of the RSFSR.  In 1971 he became Laureate of the Gutenberg Award; in 1973 — the State Prize of USSR.

Personal exhibitions of Goncharov were held in 1928 (Kazan), 1934 (two exhibitions), 1946, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960 (all — Moscow), 1962 (Leningrad), 1965, 1984 (both — Moscow).