Andrey Grositsky (1934–2017) was a Russian painter, born and based in Moscow. His artistic outlook formed in the 1960s among artists associated with “other art,” the Moscow underground. His paintings and drawings are represented in public collections including the State Tretyakov Gallery and the State Russian Museum.
Key facts
- Born: 1934-11-23
- Place of birth: Moscow
- Died: 2017-09-25
- Place of death: Moscow
- Citizenship: Soviet Union; Russia
- Occupation: painter
How did Grositsky’s career develop?
Born in Moscow on 23 November 1934, Grositsky graduated in 1959 from the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov, where he studied in D. K. Mochalsky’s workshop. In 1968 he joined the Moscow Union of Artists. He lived and worked in Moscow, the city where he was born and where he died on 25 September 2017.
The biographical record places his formation in the 1960s, a period when his artistic position and style took shape among artists of “other art” and the Moscow underground. It names Ilya Kabakov, Erik Bulatov, Ivan Chuikov, Boris Turetsky and Yuri Zlotnikov as artists in that circle. This connection situates Grositsky within a particular Moscow artistic milieu, without reducing his work to a single movement or label.
What do the exhibition titles suggest about his practice?
Grositsky’s solo exhibitions repeatedly foregrounded objects, matter and the act of looking. Titles such as Life of Things (1997), Scrap Metal (2000), Magic of Objects (2001), Materials and Matter (2012) and Archaeology of the Gaze (2015) point to recurring interests in material presence and perception. These titles offer clues to the concerns of his practice, rather than a substitute for examining individual works.
His exhibitions also included presentations focused on painting and drawing. In 2007, the State Tretyakov Gallery showed paintings and drawings from its own holdings, the New Jerusalem museum, private collections and the artist’s collection. Earlier solo presentations included Painting and Drawings at Gregory Gallery in Washington in 1994 and Painting. Graphics at the State Tretyakov Gallery in 2007.
Where can Grositsky’s work be found?
His works are held by museums and other public collections in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia. Among the institutions named are:
- State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
- State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg
- Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
- New Jerusalem, Istra
- New Museum, Saint Petersburg
- Serpukhov History and Art Museum, Serpukhov
- Primorye State Art Gallery, Vladivostok
- M. A. Vrubel Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts, Omsk
- K. A. Savitsky Penza Regional Art Gallery, Penza
His exhibition history extended beyond solo shows. Grositsky appeared in group exhibitions and art fairs, including ARTE FIERA in Bologna in 2014 and the Tretyakov Gallery’s Russian Pop Art in 2005. The range of venues, from museums to galleries and fairs, reflects the continued presentation of his work in different settings.
Why is Grositsky significant?
Grositsky’s documented career brings together formal art education, membership in the Moscow Union of Artists and an artistic formation within the city’s “other art” milieu. His recurring exhibition themes—objects, materials, painting and looking—provide a useful guide to approaching his work, while the presence of his art in major and regional collections establishes its place in public accounts of Russian art.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was Andrey Grositsky born?
Where did Grositsky study?
Which museums hold his work?
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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