Yuri Nikolaevich Popkov
Born on January 12, 1954, in Mytishchi, Moscow region.
In 1979, he graduated from the Moscow Art School in memory of 1905.
He studied under M.M. Bulgakova, A.M. Dubinchik, O.A. Avsyan, and Yu.M. Karpushin.
Works in collections
His works are held in the Tomsk Regional Art Museum and in private collections in Russia, USA, Japan, France, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Italy, Germany, South Korea.
Exhibitions and auctions
1984 Group exhibition together with I. Popkova, N. Krashchin, A. Krashchina. Moscow;
1990 Exhibition of Russian artists. "Du Signe" Gallery. Geneva;
1990 5th International Contemporary Art Fair. Los Angeles, USA;
1990 Exhibition of Russian artists. "Cooling" Gallery. London;
1991 International Contemporary Art Fair. Tokyo;
1991 International Contemporary Art Fair. London;
1991 Exhibition of Russian artists. "Soyuz" Gallery. Seoul;
1992 International Contemporary Art Fair. Tokyo;
1993 Group exhibition together with I. Popkova, V. Portyany, I. Pokladova, O. Pirbudagov, G. Pototsky. Moscow;
1994 Group exhibition together with V. Geraskevich, V. Teneta, E. Malikova. Moscow;
1994 Solo exhibition. Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Moscow.
Author about himself
"...To live with love and follow the path appointed to you from above." The meaning of this statement is at the core of my art. Once, the painter V. Popkov revealed to me the essence of composition in painting, its power and immense possibilities to impact the viewer. Since then, the genre painting has become the main form for me in painting...
For me, there are three qualities necessary for a successful painting: idea, composition, and a beautiful coloristic approach. And the main stimulus is love. Love for what you depict, and love for the process of creating a painted canvas.
Critic
Yuri Popkov's works, despite their variety and differences, are marked by a quality granted from above according to the Laws of existence. They are spiritual. To achieve this one must "live on Earth, but let the soul strive for the sky," else one cannot be so rewarded. In this lies the great mystery, tragedy and happiness of a person, their eternal fate, but a joyful fate.
The artist looks high and far. The viewer must strive, maybe even exert themselves. This is yet another confirmation of his necessity, the neededness of his art. Perhaps this is his destiny? Apparently, yes.
V. Khromov
Bibliography
S. Drozhzhin "Joyful Sense of the Tragic: Victor and Yuri Popkov", Moscow Tribun newspaper, 13.01.93;
Catalog "Yuri Popkov", 1992;
E. Solovyova "A Report from the Studio of the Artist Yu. Popkov", TV Ostankino program "Entrepreneur", March 1994;
L. Solnyshkina, program "Pygmalion", Russian TV, May 1, 1994.
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