Zinovy Vilensky
Zinovy or Zalman Moiseyevich Vilensky (15 October 1899 – 13 October 1984) was a Soviet and Russian sculptor worked and lived in Moscow. Famous for his monumental portraits exhibited at landmarks of Russia such as Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery and many others. He was awarded Stalin Prize in 1948, Became a corresponding member of USSR Academy of Arts and a People's Painter of the USSR in 1980.
Also recorded as Zinovy Moiseevich Vilensky · Zinoviĭ Moiseevich Vilenskiĭ
Zinovy Vilensky

«15 лет РККА», художественная выставка. — М.: Всекохудожник, 1933. · Public domain
- Name
- Zinovy Vilensky
- Birth Name
- Zalman Moiseyevich Vilensky
- Born
- 15 October 1899
- Birthplace
- Koriukivka, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire
- Died
- 13 October 1984
- Place of death
- Moscow, USSR
- Field
- Sculpture
- Movement
- Monumental sculpture portraits
- Awards
- People's Painter of the USSR (1980)
- Nationality
- Russian Empire · Russian Republic · Ukrainian People's Republic
- Occupation
- painter · sculptor
- Fields
- art of sculpture
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Documentary summary
Zinovy or Zalman Moiseyevich Vilensky (15 October 1899 – 13 October 1984) was a Soviet and Russian sculptor worked and lived in Moscow. Famous for his monumental portraits exhibited at landmarks of Russia such as Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery and many others. He was awarded Stalin Prize in 1948, Became a corresponding member of USSR Academy of Arts and a People's Painter of the USSR in 1980.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q4111167 · wikipedia · Zinovy Vilensky
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Zinovy Vilensky • Birth Name — Zalman Moiseyevich Vilensky • Born — 15 October 1899 • Birthplace — Koriukivka, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire • Died — 13 October 1984 • Place of death — Moscow, USSR • Field — Sculpture • Movement — Monumental sculpture portraits • Awards — People's Painter of the USSR (1980)
Biography
Biography
• Illustration — Old Z.M.Vilensky Zinovy was born in Koriukivka, Chernigov Governorate. He finished the school at the Sugar Factory in Chernigovshina and then in 1914 entered Kiev Art College were studied till 1919 and before he had graduated moved back to his motherland, village Korukovka. He worked as a decorator in the theatre of Sugar Factory and also worked as a teacher of drawing in technical secondary school of Korukovka. Then he moved to Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg) and studied in Municipal free art workshops (Academy of Arts) preparing to enter Vkhutemas. There were no places in the School Fine Art where he wanted to enter so he entered the School of Sculpture and studied there in 1922–1928. Among his teachers were Joseph Chaikov, Ivan Efimov and Anton Lavinsky. In 1930s he started participating in biggest art exhibitions while working on Portrait Busts and Monuments. He took part in the Exhibition organised in favour of 15 years anniversary of the Red Army in 1933 with two works in plaster: "Recon" and "Patrol". His first famous works were: monument of Vladimir Lenin in Azov, Portrait of Mikhail Kalinin and Bust of Sergei Kirov in Manufacturing plant "Dinamo"; Portraits of such well-known musicians as Konstantin Igumnov (1939) and Alexander Goldenweiser (1940). During World War II Vilensky was working in metallurgical plant where he created his famous "Ural Series" of terracotta sculptures (1941–1943). Personal exhibitions: 1943, 1944 Perm 1955, 1967, 1975 and 1980 Moscow After the war he lived in Moscow where he died on 15 October 1984, and was buried at the Kuntsevo Cemetery.
Monuments
Monuments
• Sergei Kirov - Borovichi: • Vladimir Lenin (1957) - Bronze - Sochi, Russia: • A P Vinogradov (1977) - Marble - Alley of Heroes, St.Peterburg: • Sergei Korolev (1980) - Marble - Korolev, Russia: • G P Svishev (1982) - Marble - Alley of Heroes, St.Peterburg
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the headings Zinovy Moiseevich Vilensky and Zinoviĭ Moiseevich Vilenskiĭ. His recorded language was Russian.
Identity
Identity
Zinovy Vilensky is recorded as a citizen of Ukrainian People's Republic. Recorded with the occupation sculptor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1899
Zinovy Vilensky was born on 3 October 1899.
1984
Zinovy Vilensky died on 13 October 1984.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Koriukivka.
Birth place
Moscow.
Death place
External links and Publications
• Listed in Best 10,000 World artists by Russian Artists Trade Union • Exhibition Catalogue: Vystavka Proizvedeniy Zinoviya Moiseevicha Vilenskogo ("Zinovy Moiseyevich Vilensky"). Academy of Arts and Union of Artists, Moscow 1966 • Book about Z. Vilensky: A.V.Paramonov, Moscow 1971 • Book about Z. Vilensky: Izobr. Iskusstvo, Moscow 1985
Sculptures
• Konstantin Igumnov (1939) - Plaster - Tretyakov Gallery: • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1949) - Marble - Tretyakov Gallery: • Semen Alekseevich Lavochkin (1947) - Marble - Tretyakov Gallery: • Stepan Elizarovich Artemenko (1948) - Bronze - Rasulovo, Odesa region: • Ivan Harlamovich Mihaylichenko (1948–1949) - Bronze - Almazniy, Lugank region: • Sergey Alekseevich Chaplygin (1950) - Plaster - NMM Zhukovsky: • Bertrand Russell (1966) - Bronze: • Mikhail Gromov (1970) - Bronze: • Sergei Korolev (1981) - Marble
Recognition and collections
Where the work is held
Recognition and collections
Zinovy Vilensky received Stalin Prize, People's Painter of the USSR, People's Painter of the RSFSR and Order of the Red Banner of Labour.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Zinovy Vilensky”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4111167: Zinovy Vilensky
General reference · Wikidata
Awards
• Stalin Prize 1948, • Corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Arts 1966, • People's Painter of the RSFSR 1969, • People's Painter of the USSR 1980
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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