Soviet Art

USSR Culture

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov

Melody. 1990. Painting by Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov
Born February 26, 1938 in Izhevsk, Rifkat grew up in a typical Tatar family, where they instilled love for their national traditions. In 1965 he graduated from the Kharkov Art Institute. Aftar graduating from the institute he became a permanent participant of exhibitions of Soviet Art. And already in 1972, he became the member of the USSR Union of artists.
Meanwhile, the artist traveled a lot. Thus, the result of his creative trips to Soviet Tashkent in the 1970s, to Turkey in the mid-1990s, became his colorful landscapes. However, after a visit to America in 2012, the artist did not create a single canvas. According to the artist, the East, and in particular, Tatarstan and its culture inspire him more.

Beautiful still life

Beautiful still life with fruits on a blue tablecloth. oil on canvas. Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov (b. 1938)

Vakhitov has an extensive experience in creative, pedagogical, organizational and social activities. He worked in Udmurtia and Uzbekistan. However, the real flowering of Vakhitov’s creativity comes after the artist moved to Kazan in 1984. The artist created a rich gallery of historical portraits of the outstanding personalities of our time. Interpretation of the image of the first President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev is interesting. A convincing portrait resemblance and psychological certainty distinguishes the figures of the Tatarstan culture: Salikh Saidashev, Ilham Shakirov, Robert Minnulin, and Alfiya Tutaeva.
In addition, Vakhitov works a lot in other genres: still lifes and landscapes. Besides, he mastered various techniques of monumental painting. For example, he is the author of stunning mosaic panels at the “Tukaevskaya” station of the Kazan Metro (2005).

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov

City landscape at Night

City landscape at Night

Also, the artist devotes much time and effort to teaching: since 2006 he is an associate professor of the Kazan Federal University. The artist’s works have occupied a worthy place in museums and private collections of Tatarstan, Russia and many countries of the world.

Rifkat Vakhitov is one of the leading masters of the fine arts of the Republic of Tatarstan. Since 1993 – a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, and Honored Artist of Tatarstan (2005). In February 2013, Rifkat Vakhitov received the title of People’s Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Crafts seller. 1994

Crafts seller. 1994

Hunters with a golden eagle

Hunters with a golden eagle

Madrasa

Madrasa

Musa. 1996. Oil, canvas

Musa. 1996. Oil, canvas

Native aul. One of the mosaic panels in the Kazan Metro

Native aul. One of the mosaic panels in the Kazan Metro

Old Tashkent

Old Tashkent

Portrait of Burnashev. 1982

Portrait of Burnashev. 1982

Portrait of Ilkham Shakirov

Portrait of Ilkham Shakirov

Poet Robert Minnullin

Poet Robert Minnullin

Portrait of Ulug Muhammad - the founder of the Kazan Khanate

Ulug Muhammad – the founder of the Kazan Khanate

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev

Salikh Saidashev's portrait

Salikh Saidashev’s portrait

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov (born 1938). In the Union of artists, 2016. photo Ramil Valeyev

Soviet Tatar artist Rifkat Mukhamedovich Vakhitov (born 1938). In the Union of artists, 2016. photo Ramil Valeyev

Still life with melon

Still life with melon

Summer reading. 2002

Summer reading. 2002

Syuyumbika with her son Utyamysh

Syuyumbika with her son Utyamysh

Syuyumbike with her son Utyamysh

Syuyumbike with her son Utyamysh

Tashkent

Tashkent street

Tatar village yard. 1987

Tatar village yard. 1987