Georgiy (Gaga) Kovenchuk. 1933-2015

Gaga Kovenchuk - Georgy Vasilievich Kovenchuk (1933-2015) was born in Leningrad. Kovenchuk graduated from the graphic faculty of the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin (Alexei Pahomov's studio). His grandfather, Nicolai Kulbin was a prominent figure in art world, a theoretician of the Russian avant-garde. Kovenchuk's life is organically interlinked with artistic life of St. Petersburg with many connecting lines.

In the 1960s Kovenchuk worked in the genre of poster for the "Fighting Pencil", from 1969-1972 was the head artist of the "Avrora" magazine. Не actively worked in poster and book illustration and co-operated with theatres. His design for books "From the Notebooks of Ilya Ilf" (1966) and "Bedbug" by Vladimir Mayakovsky (1974) won "Best Book of the Year". Kovenchuk's first personal exhibition was opened in 1971, but, however, was closed by government after a few days for "formalism". Since 1988 he exhibited constantly in different French and European galleries. In 2008 his personal exhibitions were held in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The artist's works can be found at the State Russian Museum, the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg, the Russian National Library's Collection, in many galleries and private collections in Russia and abroad. In 2003 the artist was awarded Silver Medal of the Russian Academy of Art.

The retrospective exhibition presents around 100 works - paintings, graphic works, sculptures and posters from the artist's family collection, collection of the Russian Museum and private collections.