Soviet Belarusian artist Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov

Svetlana. 1975 (artist’s wife). Painting by Soviet Belarusian artist Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov (born 5 February 1923)

Soviet Belarusian artist Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov
Born February 5, 1923 in Vitebsk, Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov turns 95 years old this year. He is one of the greatest masters of Belarusian fine arts, a teacher. People’s Artist of the BSSR (1983), Honored Artist of the BSSR, and laureate of the State Prize of the BSSR (1982).
Being a native of Vitebsk (1923), most of his life he lives in Minsk. In 1959 he graduated from the Belarusian State Theater and Art Institute, painting department. From that time up to now, Shchemelyov is a participant of almost all Belarusian republican exhibitions. Also, exhibitions of Soviet art in the USSR – RSFSR, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Ukraine. Besides, his works appeared in the exhibitions of Soviet Belarusian artists abroad. In particular, in England, Austria, Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, West Berlin, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Poland, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia, and Japa.

V.I. Lenin. Painting by Soviet Belarusian artist Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov (born 5 February 1923)

Mobilized to the Red Army at the age of eighteen, Shchemelyov participated in the battles for the liberation of many cities and forced the Pripyat. Unfortunately, in October 1943, a young soldier was seriously wounded in a battle near Mozyr. Many years later, Shchemelyov painted on canvases the events of those fiery years. However, in his works he pays more attention to the beauty of the world around him, to love and people.

Alongside with painting, the artist enthusiastically worked as a teacher. In particular, tought at the Minsk Art College (1959-1966), the Republican Boarding School for Music and Fine Arts (1968-1974) and Belarusian Polytechnic Institute (1975-1977).

Soviet Belarusian artist Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov

Wedding in Novoe Pole

Noteworthy, Leonid Dmitrievich Shchemelyov led an active social life. He was the first Secretary of the Board of the Union of Artists of the BSSR (1977-1982) and Chairman of the Board of the Art Fund of the BSSR (1982-1986).
In addition, he was a Member of the Board of the USSR Union of Artists (1983-1987) and Belarusian Union of Artists (1992-2002). And finally, was a Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Union of Artists (2002-2005).