“The man who dreamed of utopia all his life did not live to see his 90th birthday”: artist Ilya Kabakov died in the USA 28.05.2023, 08:50

One of the most famous Russian artists has died. Foundation representatives Ilya and Emilia Kabakov informed about the tragedy. “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ilya Kabakov, a great artist, philosopher, beloved husband, dear father and adored grandfather. A man who dreamed of utopia all his life left this world on Saturday, May 27, surrounded by his loved ones, before reaching his 90th birthday,” the statement read.

The funeral will be held in a close circle of relatives and friends, and everyone will be able to say goodbye to Kabakov at a memorial service that will take place in a few weeks. Nikas Safronov described the deceased as a true professional in his field. “Whatever he did, he knew what he was doing and why. It made sense, there was an idea, there was an idea that was released easily and accessible, “said Safronov.

He stated that it was Kabakov who made him talk about himself and choose the right direction of creativity. The artist often depicted the life of Soviet communal apartments without trying to hide or embellish reality.

“America accepted him, he started making himself known under Khrushchev… Then, on the wave of protest, they tried to create a counterweight, an alternative to Soviet art. He got streamed, but whatever you say, he was a great, iconic artist, someone who knew how to present himself and show what he was doing. This is not an amateur artist, this is a professional,” assured Safranov in an interview with Ren-TV.

Ilya Kabakov was born in Dnipropetrovsk and graduated from the Surikov Institute in Moscow. Kabakov illustrated the magazines “Murzilka” and “Funny Pictures”, as well as books of the “Children’s Literature” publishing house. In the 1980s, the artist became interested in installations with the atmosphere of Soviet communal life. He emigrated to the United States during perestroika. From that moment on, the artist worked together with his wife Emilia.

The artist’s works are in the Tretyakov Gallery, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, and also in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Kabakov’s paintings Luxe and Beetle, painted in 2006 and 2008, respectively, sold at Phillips de Pury in London for record sums of $4.1 million and $5.84 million.

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