Soviet sculptor-animalist Alexey Tsvetkov

Soviet sculptor-animalist Alexey Tsvetkov
Aleksey Sergeevich Tsvetkov (1924-2009) – prominent Russian and Soviet sculptor-animal artist, a member of the USSR Union of artists. He was an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, student of the most famous Soviet sculptor A. A. Vatagin. Veteran of World War II, Tsvetkov was a Cavalier of the Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree and Cavalier of the Order of the Red Star. According to art critics, Tsvetkov continued the traditions of Soviet animal sculptors. In particular, I. S. Efimov, V. A. Vatagin, A. G. Sotnikov, D. F. Tsaplin, along with his contemporaries A. V. Marts and A. M. Belashov. Traditionally, the artist created his sculptures using wood, metal, stone, porcelain and concrete, however, his favorite material was wood.

Born and raised in a large peasant family, Alexey Tsvetkov volunteered for the front when the Great Patriotic War began. Seriously wounded, he lost his leg and returned to his native village. A few years later he entered the art studio under the Association of Kalinin artists. Then, he entered the Leningrad Higher Art and Industrial College named after V. Mukhina, from which he graduated in 1951. Soon he moved to Moscow and began to participate in art exhibitions of Soviet art.

Every year he came to his native village, and it was here he created many images of his sculpture. During his creative life, Tsvetkov created more than 300 sculptures presented in 47 art collections of our country, as well as in private collections abroad.

Soviet sculptor-animalist Alexey Sergeyevich Tsvetkov

Called the “master of the wood”, he did not duplicate his work, and each of his works exists in a single copy. The methods of his work are unique. “When driving through a city or countryside, I notice, for example, a fallen tree or an inverted stump. And among the bends, crooked lines and roots, I intuitively define something interesting,” said the artist. He was able to understand and subtly feel this complex material, to see and embody fresh, vivid images in it.