USTICKE Valentin Mikhailovich

1892 (Petersburg) — 1951 (Rostov-на-Дону)

Painter, graphic artist, sculptor, set designer

From the family solicitor Michael Antonovich Yustitskogo. He graduated from page corps school in St. Petersburg. He studied in the Classes of painting and drawing Я. С. Гольдблата in St. Petersburg, then at the Drawing school И. П. Трутнева in Vilna, in a private Studio Ж. Э. Бланша in Paris (1912-1913). Visited Vienna, Berlin.

In 1915-1918 he lived in Moscow. In 1918, on the recommendation of А. В. Луначарского and the direction of the Commissariat moved to Saratov, where he headed the Studio of painting and drawing at the Saratov Proletkult (1919). The founder of the society of artists of new art ("Presentity") is in Saratov (1920).

Went through a fascination with Fauvism (1910-е), cubism, constructivism (1920-е). In the early 1920-х he created concave reliefs using metal, wood, cardboard. He painted landscapes, compositions on fantastic stories. Author paintings: "Angelus" (1922), "Thrush" (1923), "Scenic design" (1920-е), "Fishermen" (1934), "Jockeys" (1940) and other; series of gouaches — "Fishermen", "Costumes and masks" (both — 1916), graphic series "Horsemen" (1920-е). Participated in competition of projects of a monument to "victims of the Revolution" (early 1920-х), presenting the project in the form of moving bridge.

Studied monumental painting and book illustration. He worked in theater as a Director and artist. Organized avant-garde theatre "Poema" in Saratov, intended as the arena for finding new forms of entertainment. Executed scenery for productions of "Zori" Э. Верхарна (1920), "Steam mass" В. В. Каменского (1921) for the Saratov drama theater. Karl Marx; "Robbers" Ф. Шиллера (1922) 2-й Studio of the Moscow art theatre in Moscow.

In 1936 he returned to Moscow. Collaborated in the publishing house "Academia"; completed the illustrations for the book "Blind" М. Метерлинка (1936), the works В. В. Маяковского, Э. Золя.