Alexander Bystriakov’s art exhibition was opened on July 19, in the malyi zal (small hall) of the gallery. More than 30 sketches and paintings of the emigrated painter are being exhibited. The exposition is presenting works, which were painted in Moscow of 1930s, landscapes and paintings of war and post-war years and sketches from America’s life of 1950-60s.
Alexander Ivanovich Bystriakov was born in Ukraine in 1907. He studied at Dnepropetrovsk Art School, then in Moscow.
During World War II Alexander Bystriakov appeared to be abroad. After the end of the war he worked in Slovakia and West Germany. In 1956 he moved to the USA where he lived in Newark and worked in some art studio. He dreamt of coming back home but failed to do it. A feeling of nostalgia for native land runs through many of his works. He often depicted a Ukrainian village – people’s simple everyday chores. The painter died in 1966. In his testament he asked to take all his works home. His wife returned to Izmail, Ukraine. Some part of his works she transferred to the Izmail Art Gallery.
In 1968 the painter’s remains were returned to Ukraine and buried in the Izmail graveyard. During his life the works of Alexander Bystriakov participated in two exhibitions that were held in Ukraine.
His works were exhibited in 1936 in Dnepropetrovsk, in the House of Engineering and Technical Workers with the paintings of such artists as Maksimenko, Pogribniak, Reshetnikov, Teplov and Khast.
His works were also exhibited in June, 1941, in Kyiv, where the first exhibition of painters from Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Priluky, Stalino (now it is Donetsk) and Chernigov was held.
The first one-man show of Alexander Bystriakov was held in 1994 in the picture gallery of Izmail.
“Self-portrait”, 1930s, oil on canvas
“Hayfield”, 1940s, watercolor on paper
“Oranges”, 1961, oil on canvas on cardboard
“Fifth Avenue”, 1964, oil on canvas on cardboard
“Fishermen”, 1965, watercolor on paper