Alexander Shilov is an artist, the successor of the Russian realistic tradition. Not succumbing to the influence of new-fangled trends in painting, in his work he always went his own way. Among his works there are portraits, and still lifes, and graphics. But the artist Shilov became an unsurpassed master in the portrait genre.
Fame and fame
Alexander Shilov is an artist whose biography at first glance developed successfully and smoothly. The glory of the unrecognized genius does not threaten this representative of contemporary Russian art.
The future of painting was born in the capital. There he received an art education. At thirty-three, he became a member of the Union of Artists. Since the late nineties, he has been a member of the Arts Council. He received a huge number of awards, among them the FSB Prize, which he was awarded for creating a series of portraits of state security officers. He is also a member of the Academy of Arts.
Before becoming famous, the artist Shilov interrupted by casual earnings, not related to art. But a different life could not be in the fifties. Nevertheless, the first participation in the exhibition of domestic art took place when the painter was not yet thirty. Few of the artists of the Soviet era could boast of such a rapid rise. Perhaps the reason lies not so much in Shilov’s luck, but in the direction he chose. Realistic art in the Soviet Union has always been held in high esteem.
Female images
The personal life of the artist is the theme of numerous television shows and scandalous articles. One of the most important women in the life of the master is his wife Anna. The artist Shilov could only fall in love with a woman of unearthly beauty, worthy of becoming a muse. That is why among his canvases there is often an image of a blue-eyed beauty with a dark shock of hair. Inspired by the writing of portraits and daughter Shilova. The artist, however, suffered a tragedy that changed her life and, as friends say, character.
Shilov’s paintings do not always show bright young ladies. His brushes also belong to the painting "Portrait of a Mother", "My Grandmother", which depict people close to him.
Mashenka Shilova
Hardly anyone can be indifferent to the portrait of his daughter, painted in 1983. The picture was created in the most favorable life and creative period of the master. The impression of her is enhanced by the knowledge of the further fate of the model. She did not live long. Only sixteen years old. The cause of death of the daughter of the artist Shilov is a serious illness. Masha Shilova died of bone sarcoma. Father devoted a lot of paintings to a dark-haired girl with a doll appearance.
The artist’s daughter is buried in Moscow. Everyone who visited the Vagankovsky cemetery at least once was struck by the gilded figure of an angel in the central alley.
Portraits of Celebrities
There is nothing accidental in real art. Everything that completes the image - pose, clothing, interior, is designed to characterize the hero, conveying his inner world. The artist Shilov adheres to this principle, in the paintings of which there is nothing superfluous. Among the celebrities to whom this artist dedicated his paintings is Yuri Gagarin, Sergey Bondarchuk, Victor Rozov.
Man for Shilov is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Some colorful personalities inspired him more than once. One of them is Alik Yakulov, a violinist of gypsy origin, whose vivid image is dedicated to several paintings.
It is worth saying that not all art critics favor the canvases of a romantic painter. For the predominance of images of young beauties, popular personalities and political figures at his exhibitions, he gained fame as a “court” artist. However, this opinion is not entirely fair, since the master owns works dedicated not only to prominent personalities, but also to ordinary people.
The negative attitude to this representative of Russian painting is also explained by the fact that the artist, in the generally accepted opinion, must be hungry and unhappy. Shilov, thanks to his industriousness, was always a wealthy person. As for happiness, despite the outward gloss of a bohemian personality, it is very doubtful, given the facts from his personal life.
Portraits of ordinary people
For an outstanding portrait painter, models were people of various professions, age, appearance, material and social status. In this regard, the artist Shilov never had any particular preferences. The main thing for him is to comprehend the inner world of a person and find that very moment when fate is revealed and the secrets of his soul are revealed. Although among the works of the author there are many children's images. The purity and charm of childhood on Shilov’s canvases are shown with soulful force.
All portraits are painted from nature. The artist is equally interested in the images of famous people, as well as those whom his fans know only through his exhibitions. He portrayed veterans of World War II, mothers with many children, unknown village old women. His touching painting “Alone” is not just a portrait of an elderly woman amid the poor situation of a Russian hut. This is an image of loneliness, longing, which a person experiences in old age.
Exhibitions
Alexander Shilov is an artist whose paintings were exhibited in the halls of France, Germany, Portugal and Japan. At home, he held a large number of solo exhibitions. The Russian master absorbed all the achievements of world realistic painting. Improving his skills, he continues to delight fans of fine art today. Among the main Moscow attractions is the Shilov Gallery, which has more than nine hundred works by the author.