Anatoly Chechik (born 13 September 1953) is a Soviet and Russian artist whose practice spans theatre scenography and painting. Trained in architecture, he worked in theatres and developed large-scale painted projects, including the 90-picture installation Labyrinth. His works are held in museum collections in Kyiv and Moscow.
Key facts
- Born: 1953-09-13
- Citizenship: Soviet Union; Russia
- Occupation: artist
How did Chechik’s career develop?
Born in Kyiv, Chechik graduated from the architectural faculty of the Kyiv State Art Institute in 1976, studying in N. B. Chmutina’s workshop. From 1978 he worked as a production designer in theatres. He became chief artist of the Kyiv City Puppet Theatre in 1983, then worked as a production designer and director at the Ivan Franko Academic Theatre from 1984.
Between 1988 and 1991, he worked in an experimental graphics studio at the Tbilisi House of Artists. He has lived and worked in Moscow. His professional roles have included leading the scenography workshop at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) from 2007 to 2009. In 2020, he was elected a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts.
What are his notable works?
Chechik’s theatre work includes productions of Someone Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Aeneid, both from 1986. Later projects include the animation-video performances Don Tenorio (2013), Decameron (2016), Hoffmann-Brecht (2019) and Red Square (2021), made at Flashtheatre.
Among his paintings and installation-based projects are Exodus (1991), Labyrinth (2006–2008), a novel-installation composed of 90 paintings, and Leporello (2016), a 20-painting work described as a “Drama of Fine Arts.” Revolution Square Station dates to 2019. The range of formats connects his work in theatre with projects conceived through sequences of images.
Where can his work be seen?
Chechik has participated in exhibitions since 1980 and held solo exhibitions in Moscow, Berlin and Tallinn, among other venues. His exhibitions have included Labyrinth (2010), Opus mixtum (2013), Last Year’s Snow (2014), Leporello (2016), Homo ludens (2020) and Roman Holidays (2022).
His works are held in collections including:
- Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine, Kyiv
- National Museum of Literature of Ukraine, Kyiv
- Mikhail Bulgakov Literary-Memorial Museum, Kyiv
- Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Moscow
- Moscow Museum of Modern Art
- Museum fund of the Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow
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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