Pavel Nikonov

Pavel Fedorovich Nikonov was a Russian painter, graphic artist, teacher and academic.

Life and career

During the war years, he was evacuated with his family in the Trans-Urals. In 1950, he graduated from the Moscow Secondary Art School. From 1950 to 1956, he studied at the Surikov Moscow Art Institute.
Together with his brother Mikhail, he was a member of the Nine group. The most famous painting of Nikonov, "Geologists", caused public criticism of Nikita Khrushchev at the exhibition of the 30th anniversary of the Moscow Union of Artists.
From 1998 to 2006, he directed the easel painting workshop at the Surikov Institute.
In 2008, he presented an exhibition in Saint Petersburg called "The village as the center of the universe" Kvadrat Gallery.
Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts. People's Artist of the Russian Federation. In 2001, he was awarded Order of Honour. Twice winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation. He was one of the founders of the Austere Style.
Nikonov died on 8 November 2025, at the age of 95.