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Ulianov, Nikolai
Nikolai Ulianov was born in 1922, in the village Polukhtino of Tver region, to a peasant family, and endowed with a sensitive impressionable soul of a true artist. From an early age he paid heightened attention to the beauty of his surrounding world and painted it through out his childhood.
Ulianov left for the front in WWII, as a volunteer, leaving his scholastics behind. He took part in the defense of Moscow, and then, having graduated the Tank School, fought at Kursk Arc and at Donbass. In 1943 he was badly wounded becoming physically disabled. In what could have been the darkest days of Ulianov's life, his love of art inspired him, bringing to light the true calling of being a Master Artist. This invigorated his being, evoking his early desires and propelling Ulianov's life forward.
Eight years later, in 1950, Ulianov with highest marks graduated from the Moscow City Art Studio for Veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Among his teachers were K. Yuon, I. Zakharov, K. Morozov, and G. Sretensky. A bright representative of the Russian realistic school of painting, Ulianov, lived his life tirelessly and up to the last breath endeavored to evoke inspiration through his art.
In the opinion of Ulianov, the painting should answer three questions: what, why and how. These questions are answered through the combination of technique, composition and coloring. Ulianov is the author of many wonderful landscape paintings that never leave a viewer indifferent. Landscapes and portraits by Ulianov reflect the sensitive, susceptible soul of the artist, full of high feelings and deep emotions. He traveled throughout Russia, but most of all he loved the beauty of central Russia. He had a keen eye for different states of nature and in different seasons, whether bright sun or gloomy days. Examples of his range of expression can be seen in such works as; “Native Land”, “Autumn”, “Pine Forest”, “Among Birch Trees”, “Spring Day”, and “Autumn Wind”.
Ulianov became a member of the Union of Artists of Russia in 1958; he participated in many Moscow and regional exhibitions. Due to his extraordinary modesty he didn't have a single personal exhibition in his life time. However, over 100 of his works are included in major museums (including the Tretyakov State Gallery and the State Russian Museum) and private collections.