Vladimir Yankilevsky (1938–2018) was a Russian painter, graphic artist and illustrator born in Moscow. A participant in the Soviet nonconformist art scene, he became known for triptychs whose unsettling imagery addressed constrained states of mind and the human condition. He later lived in Paris, where he died in 2018.
Key facts
- Born: 1938-02-15
- Place of birth: Moscow
- Died: 2018-01-04
- Place of death: Paris
- Citizenship: Soviet Union; Russia; France
- Occupation: painter; graphic artist; artist; illustrator
- Educated at: Moscow Academic Art Liceum
- Has works in the collection: Tate; Musée National d'Art Moderne; Museum of Modern Art; Museum Ludwig
How did Yankilevsky’s career unfold?
Born on 15 February 1938, Yankilevsky studied at the Moscow Academic Art Liceum and worked in Moscow. In 1962, he took part in the Manezh Art Exhibit, where Nikita Khrushchev rebuked the nonconformist artists.
During the 1970s, Yankilevsky moved from Moscow to Paris with support from gallerist and collector Dina Vierny. His work appeared alongside that of other nonconformist artists in Russian Avant-Garde – Moscow 1973, presented at Vierny’s gallery in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. He lived in Paris with his wife, Rimma, until his death on 4 January 2018, aged 79.
What characterises his art?
Yankilevsky’s triptychs are among his best-known works. Their disorienting, sometimes nightmarish imagery gives form to psychological restriction, relating everyday experience in the Soviet Union to broader questions about human existence. His association with nonconformist art places his practice within a movement outside official Soviet artistic norms.
Where are his works held?
Works by Yankilevsky are held in the collections of:
- Tate
- Musée National d’Art Moderne
- Museum of Modern Art
- Museum Ludwig
His participation in the 1962 Manezh exhibition and his subsequent Paris career connect his work with both Soviet nonconformist art and its presentation beyond Moscow.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was Vladimir Yankilevsky born?
What kind of artist was Yankilevsky?
Where did Yankilevsky live later in life?
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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