Viktor Elkonin (1910–1994) was a Soviet painter and graphic artist born in Poltava Governorate and later based in Moscow. His career ranged from monumental painting and book illustration to mosaic, relief and tapestry. He received the title Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union Prize.
Key facts
- Born: 1910-03-07
- Place of birth: Poltava Governorate
- Died: 1994-11-10
- Place of death: Moscow
- Citizenship: Soviet Union
- Occupation: painter
- Award received: Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (visual arts); Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union Prize; Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class
How did Elkonin develop his career?
Elkonin studied at Vkhutein from 1927 to 1930, where his teachers included K. N. Istomin, L. A. Bruni, V. A. Favorsky, N. M. Chernyshev and P. V. Kuznetsov. He joined the Society of Artists “Four Arts” in 1930 and the Moscow Union of Artists in 1933. From 1933 to 1935, he also wrote art criticism for Literaturnaya Gazeta under the pseudonym E. Viktorov.
As a graphic artist, he designed more than 80 books for Moscow publishers. In 1935, he entered the Workshop of Monumental Painting, led by Bruni, with Favorsky as consultant. After serving in the Red Army from 1942 until the end of the Second World War, including in the battles for Berlin, he returned to monumental work and became one of the workshop’s leaders. The workshop continued until 1948.
What works and mediums are associated with him?
Elkonin’s documented projects show his work across public and decorative forms. In 1948, he and N. M. Elkonina created a panel for the 800th anniversary of Moscow at the club of the S. M. Budyonny factory. His later works included a panel for the USSR pavilion at the World’s Fair in Brussels, a post-office mosaic and frescoes, a relief in forged copper, and a tapestry for a reception hall at the USSR Embassy in Paris.
- Golden Moscow, a 1958 panel made with A. V. Vasnetsov and A. D. Goncharov.
- History of Russian Post, a mosaic, with fresco decoration at the Kazan railway station post office, made with A. V. Vasnetsov in 1965–1966.
- Flora, a forged-copper relief for the Floriculture pavilion at VDNKh USSR, made with Yu. V. Alexandrov in 1972.
- Moscow — Capital of the Soviet Union, a 1977 tapestry for the reception hall of the USSR Embassy in Paris.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Elkonin also turned his attention to tapestry and easel painting.
Where was his work shown and collected?
Elkonin took part in exhibitions in the Soviet Union and abroad, including events in Königsberg, Madrid, Marseille, the United States, Leipzig and France. His solo exhibitions were held in Moscow in 1970 and 1975, the latter two jointly with N. M. Elkonina-Rosenberg; further exhibitions followed at Moscow’s Segodnya Gallery in 1985 and 1992. The State Tretyakov Gallery held an exhibition of his work in 1996.
Works by Elkonin are held by the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, the State Museum of Fine Arts and other museums in Russia, as well as private collections abroad.
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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