It’s easy to see why Russian painter Alexei Kryukov was awarded the 2023 Presidential Prize by President Vladimir Putin. 

His paintings are emotional, almost infinitely subtle in their use of color. They depict man as suffused with divine mystery. By a strange creative magnetism, they hold your gaze,demanding a response.

Born on September 25, 1987, in the Bryansk Region. Alexei graduated from the Ilya Glazunov Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in 2016 (the Portrait Class taught by Merited Artist of Russia Dmitry Slepushkin) and completed an internship at the academy under the tutelage of People’s Artist of Russia Ilya Glazunov in 2018. He has received several awards.

Even as a student, Alexei often visited Donbass, Ukraine, to paint portraits of the militia, legendary commanders, ordinary soldiers, and children of war, as well as to portray the daily life of military personnel at the frontline and the dangers facing residents of local cities every day. He has created an entire chronicle of those turbulent years. On The Patrick Coffin Show, with the help of Russian translator Alex Romanow, Alexei Krukov does a deep dive into his art, and the inspiration for what he does with such creative expertise.

In this episode, you will learn:

His earliest realization of his artistic dream  The relationship between art, culture, and morality Why he believes Orthodox Russia is the world’s last bullwark of Christian civilization What the US media won’t tell you about the “war in Ukraine” Where the perception of Putin a Hitler came from Krukov’s questions to me about “Pope Francis” and his pro gay advocacy What goes into creating suck modern masterpiece of color, emotion, style, and the human-divine unity

Resources mentioned:

Website of Alexei Kryukov: www.akrukov.ru

Insta feed of Alexei Kryukov

The Monastery by Zakhar Prilepin 

Sankya by Zakhar Prilepin