Soviet Art

USSR Culture

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov. In the world of the beautiful (young artist). Tempera. 1989 Exhibition of Artists of the autonomous republics, regions and national districts of the RSFSR

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov. In the world of the beautiful (young artist). Tempera. 1989 Exhibition of Artists of the autonomous republics, regions and national districts of the RSFSR

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov was born November 13, 1940 in Sortavala of Karelian-Finnish SSR of the USSR. In school, Valentin learned in the art studio of the Petrozavodsk Palace of Pioneers. In 1958-1962 he studied and graduated from the Leningrad Art and Graphic pedagogical school. In 1962-1968 he studied and graduated from the painting department of the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (studio of Neprintsev). In 1971 Chekmasov was admitted to the Union of Artists of the USSR. In 1985-1991 he was a chairman of the Union of Artists of Karelia. He works in different genres, including portraits, landscapes, graphic art. Chekmasov is the successor of the traditions of Russian realistic school, his paintings are clear and close to the heart of a common man. Works of People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Chekmasov are in the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk, Sverdlovsk, Volgograd Museum of Fine Arts, Fine Arts museums of the Komi Republic and others.

Valentin Chekmasov. Nightwatch (surgeon F.V. Vasilyev). 1972

V. Chekmasov. Nightwatch (surgeon F.V. Vasilyev). 1972

The first success came to the artist after his return to Petrozavodsk, it was his painting “Nightwatch”. For him, in 1972 Chekmasov was awarded the prize for best picture at the National competition “Our Contemporary”.

In a relatively short time, Valentin has created a gallery of his contemporaries: the people of culture, science, government, becoming the leading master of the portrait genre in Karelia. Great place in his work takes his family: wife, children. They served as a model for many paintings by the artist. Chekmasov painted places where he had been abroad: Bulgaria, England, Germany, Finland, as well as historical images. Some of his paintings keep the images of artists of bygone eras.

VS Chekmasov (b. 1940) first tractor. 1968-1969. Oil on canvas

VS Chekmasov (b. 1940) first tractor. 1968-1969. Oil on canvas

Chekmasov took part in art exhibitions:
All-Union (1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1987)
Nationwide (1972, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1992)
Karelian artists in Moscow (1980), in Leningrad (1980), the German Democratic Republic (1972, 1977, 1983, 1985), Finland (1972, 1976, 1978), Poland (1976, 1979, 1984)
“North” (1969-1989)
Personal: Petrozavodsk (1980, 1990), Moscow (1984), Finland (1991), Great Novgorod (2013).

For friendship. (Self-portrait with the Polish artist Tadeusz Zholdak). 1977. Solid plate, tempera, varnish

For friendship! (Self-portrait with the Polish artist Tadeusz Zholdak). 1977. Solid plate, tempera, varnish

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

My contemporary V. Abankin. 1980 Particle board, tempera, varnish

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

In Bulgaria. (Self-portrait). 1975-1976. Solid plate, tempera, varnish

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Motherhood. 1977-1978. Portrait of the wife. Solid plate, tempera

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Stop the Moment (photographer PB Fighters). 1990. Solid plate, tempera, varnish

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Winter melody. 1986. Solid plate, tempera, varnish

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

View from the window (Winter Landscape). 1972. Solid plate, tempera, varnish

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Art studio of V. Chekmasov

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Artist Boris Pomortsev. 1995-1997

Soviet painter Valentin Chekmasov

Dmitry Moskin – a student of the Leningrad Higher Art Pedagogical University. 1974