Vladimir Brainin (born 4 November 1951 in Moscow) is a Russian painter whose education and career took shape in the Soviet Union and continued in Russia. A graduate of the Moscow State University of Printing Arts, he is known for paintings that bring together primitivist traditions, compositions recalling old photographs and assured brushwork.
Key facts
- Born: 1951-11-04
- Place of birth: Moscow
- Citizenship: Soviet Union; Russia
- Occupation: painter
- Educated at: Moscow State University of Printing Arts
How did Brainin develop his career?
Brainin studied at a children’s art school in Moscow’s Krasnopresnensky district and worked as a set decorator at the Vladimir Mayakovsky Moscow Academic Theatre. He also studied painting in the studio of E. A. Dodonov before attending the Moscow Polygraphic Institute, where his studies focused on the artistic and technical design of printed products.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he served as artistic director of interregional and international creative groups at the Senеж House of Creativity. He became a member of the USSR Artists’ Union in 1983 and a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts in 2001.
What characterises his painting?
Brainin paints Moscow from observation. His visual language combines features associated with primitivism and the framing devices of early photography, while retaining a highly controlled command of paint. The resulting pictures are described as philosophical and touched by surrealism, yet grounded in the artist’s surrounding world and a romantic outlook on reality.
Where has his work been shown and collected?
Brainin’s solo exhibitions include “Streets” at Gallery Kino in Moscow in 2005, “Dialogue with Myself” at the New Manege in Moscow in 2006, and “The Phenomenon of the Lion” at the Khokhlovka Art Quarter in Moscow in 2022. His work is held in collections including:
- The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
- The State Russian Museum, St Petersburg
- ART4 Museum, Moscow
- Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts
- Kaliningrad Art Gallery
- Ludwig Museum, Cologne
- Dresden Picture Gallery
- Bureau of Contemporary Art, Warsaw
His distinctions include the Moscow Prize in Literature and Art in 2002 and the “For Achievements in Culture” badge in 2004.
Frequently asked questions
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An independent reference profile prepared by intart.org from public biographical records. intart.org is not affiliated with the artist, their estate or their galleries.
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