Mikhail Kugach

Mikhail Kugach
1939 - Present

Mikhail Yurevich Kugach was born January 2, 1939 in Moscow. He is the son of the famous Russian artists Yuri Petrovich Kugach and Olga Grigoryevna Svetlichnaya. In 1949 he enrolled in his first art classes at the Moscow secondary art school, which was affiliated with the Surikov Institute. He studied here until 1956 when he was accepted into the Surikov Institute. He graduated from the Institute in 1962 and began to actively exhibit his works.

Since 1963, Mikhail has participated in every regular exhibition that is associated with the Artists' Guild. In 1965 he became a full member of the Artists' Guild. From 1967 to 1968 he had the opportunity to work under B.V. Ioganson in the studio of the Soviet Academy of Arts. He is a member of the famous Moscow River School (founded by his father), a school steeped in the academic tradition. Great emphasis lies on capturing a sense of atmosphere as well as the accurate depiction of space. Mikhail Kugach continues to paint the every-day life or genre scenes he is notorious for. Aside from painting he has been honored to hold several significant posts throughout his life.

From 1987 to 1989 he was the director of the "1905" Moscow Art Institute. Since 1988 he has been the chairman of "Moskvorech'e", the creative union of artists. In 1995 he was selected to be the member-correspondent for the Russian Academy of Artists. He is also an active member and has been the president of the legendary Moscow River Group. Mikhail continues to paint today primarily in the Tver' region, along the Msta River. This Russian countryside is continuously a theme in the artist's work. His works can be found today in galleries, museums, and private collections around the world.

Exhibitions partial list

Awards:(partial list)

•Chairman of Moskvorech'e, 1988 - present
•Director of "1905" Moscow Art Institute, 1987 - 1989
•Member-Correspondent for the Russian Academy of Artists, 1995
•Membership to the Artists' Guild, 1965

Exhibitions:(partial list)

2009, Kugach, Kugach, Kugach, Three Generations of Artists, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center

2009, The Russian Art Fair, London, England

Collections:(partial list)

Altai State Folk Museum of Arts
Workshop, 1972, Oil on Canvas, 115 x 218 cm

Magadan Regional Folk Museum
After the War, 1982, Oil on Canvas, 122 x 174 cm

Nizhegorodsky State Museum of Fine Arts
Holiday Morning, 1969, Oil on Canvas, 125 x 205 cm

Oreburg Regional Museum of Fine Arts
In the Evening, 1974, Oil on Canvas, 80 x 100 cm

Regional Museum of Arts, Tula
On the Way Home, 1985, Oil on Canvas, 250 x 180 cm

Regional Picture Gallery, Primorye
After the Victory, 1980, Oil on Pressed Paper, 190 x 120 cm

Republic Museum of Fine Arts, Mordova
New Flat, 1972, Oil on Canvas, 120 x 150 cm

Russia Artists' Union
Grandfather and Grandson, 1984, Oil on Canvas, 190 x 120 cm
Life is Going On, 1990, Oil on Canvas, 150 x 175 cm
Visit, 1996, Oil on Canvas, 120 x 120 cm

Russian Ministry of Culture
The Return, 1969, Oil on Canvas, 81 x 49 cm

State Museum of Fine Arts, Tatarstan Republic
Coming Back, 1969, Oil on Canvas, 125 x 205 cm

State Vladimir-Suzdal Art Museum
Seeing Off, 1983, Oil on Canvas, 100 x 180 cm

Tretyakov State Gallery
Spring, 1945, Oil on Canvas, 150 x 215 cm

Tver Picture Gallery
Autumn Silence, 1981, Oil on Canvas, 80 x 168 cm
War Time, 1982, Oil on Canvas, 116 x 89 cm

Voronezh Regional Museum of Fine Arts
Landing Stage, 1974, Oil on Canvas, 78 x 216 cm

Books:(partial list)
The Connection of Times, Covering the works of Yuri, Olga, Mikhail, Ivan, and Ekaterina Kugach —

Pages of Memoirs, Covering the works of Yuri and Mikhail Kugach also the work of Vlaymir Filipov and Boris Petrenko —

Russia - Motherland, Covering the works of Yuri and Mikhail Kugach Published in 2006 by Istoki Publishing House —

1998 — Socialist Realist Painting, by Matthew Cullerne Bown
p. 436, in the collection of the Russian Ministry of Culture
Oil on Canvas, 1969, 81 x 49 in. — The Return