Zurab Konstantinovich TSERETELI
Birth date: 04.01.1934Election date: 26.12.1979
Honors: Hero of Socialist Labor / People’s Artist of the USSR and Georgia Soviet Republic / the order “Friendship of Peoples” (Russia) / the “Vermeil Medal” (France) / the Honorary Cross “Combattant Volontaire” (France) / order “Glory of Russia” (Russia) / UNESCO Picasso Gold Medal / UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador / Winner of State Prize of the Russian Federation / People’s Artist of the Russian Federation / Winner of USSR State Prize / People’s Artist of the Russian Federation / People's Artist of USSR / Full Cavalier of the Order “For Services to Metherland” (Russia) / Chevalier of the National Order of Legion of Honor (France) / Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France)
Rank: Academician
Member position: President of the Russian Academy of Arts, President of the Moscow International Foundation for Support to UNESCO, Director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Director of “Tsereteli Art Gallery”
Department: Painting
Country: Russia
Additional information: President of the Russian Academy of Arts
Birth date: 04.01.1934 Election date: 17.03.1988
Honors: Professor / Winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation / People’s Artist of the Russian Federation / Hero of Socialist Labor / Lenin Prize Winner / People’s Artist of the USSR and Georgia Soviet Republic / Winner of two State Prizes of the USSR / the order “Friendship of Peoples” (Russia) / Full Cavalier of the Order “For Services to Metherland” (Russia) / Chevalier of the National Order of Legion of Honor (France) / Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France) / the “Vermeil Medal” (France) / the Honorary Cross “Combattant Volontaire” (France) / order “Glory of Russia” (Russia) / UNESCO Picasso Gold Medal / UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Official site - www.tsereteli.ru (Russian version)
BIOGRAPHY
1934
Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli was born in Tbilisi on January 4, 1934.
1942
Zurab entered the 2nd Tbilisi Secondary School.
He took a keen interest in painting. His first teacher and guru on his way to the world of art was his uncle – artist George Nizharadze.
1952
Zurab Tseteli was enrolled in the TbilisiState Academy of Arts.
1958
His diploma work “Song about Tbilisi” was rejected because of “elements of conditional character”. He defended another diploma work completed within a week.
Marriage with Inesse Andronikashvili.
Work for the Institute of Ethnography and Archeology of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
1959
Daughter Elena was born.
1963-1964
Zurab Tseretelibecame an art director and chairman of the monumental section of the Artists’ Union of Georgia.
1967
Zurab Tsereteli completed his work on the art and monumental design of the resort complex in Pitsunda and was a Chief Designer of resort complexes in Georgia (inGagry, Sikhumi, Barzhomi and other cities).
His solo show in Tbilisi. Tsereteli was awarded the title of an Honored Artist of the Georgian Republic of the USSR
1967-1968
Zurab Tsereteli executed a design for the Cinema House in Moscow.
His first trip to Paris, France: meeting with Charles de Gaulle; visit to Pablo Picasso’s studio and acquaintance with the master.
1969
Zurab Tsereteli created mosaic and sculptural three-dimensional compositions for decoration of walls of the Trade Union Palace in Tbilisi (Georgia), as well as his Sea Bottom mosaic water-pool in the Ulyanovsk memorial complex (Russia).
1970
Winner of the USSR State Prize
Tsereteli was appointed a chief designer of the USSR Foreign Ministry (1970-1980). He decorated the interiors of the USSR embassies in several countries.
1973
Tsereteli completed the artistic design of the resort complex in Adler.
1974
Zurab Tsereteli completed the interior decoration of the USSR Embassy in Brazil. His acquaintance with Oscar Nimeier.
1976
Winner of the Lenin Prize
1978
The first grandson Vasily was born.
Tsereteli was awarded the People’s Artist of the Georgian Republic of the USSR.
His trip to the United States on the invitation of the College of Arts and Science at Brockport of the State University of New York (Brockport, New York, USA). He taught a painting course at SUNY Brockport.
Work on his new sculpture “Happiness to Children of the World”.
Zurab Tsereteli was presented with an honorary certificate of the distinguished visiting Professor of Arts of the State University of New York, the College of Arts and Science in Brockport.
1979
Unveiling ceremony for the monument “Happiness to Children of the World” in honor of the Special Olympic Games (Brockport, USA). Zurab Tsereteli transferred his royalty to the Foundation for Physically-Challenged Children.
Tsereteli presented his sculptural composition “Prometheus” or “Science and Education to the World” as a gift to students of the College of Arts and Science in Brockport of the State University of New York. The sculpture is located in front of the library at SUNY Brockport.
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Arts.
1980
Zurab Tsereteli was designated as a chief-designer of XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.
The artist started his work of many years on the monumental complex “History of Georgia” (Tbilisi, Georgia).
The Order“Friendship of Peoples”
The People’s Artist of the USSR
1981-1982
Tsereteli worked as an Art Director for Monumental and Decorative Art of the Art Foundation of Georgia.
Professor of the Tbilisi Academy of Arts
Zurab Tsereteli was appointed a head of the Creative Workshop of Monumental Art of the USSR Academy of Arts in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The USSR State Prize
1983 – 1985
Inauguration of the monument “Eternal Friendship” in Moscow in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Georgievsky Treaty between Russia and Georgia. Architect Andrey Voznesensky
Tsereteli headed the Chair of Monumental and Decorative Art in the Tbilisi Academy of Arts.
1987-1988
The second grandson Zurab was born.
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Chairman of the Union of Designers of Georgia.
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Full Member of the USSR Academy of Arts.
1990
Unveiling ceremony for Tsereteli’s monument “Good Defeats Evil” on the north lawn of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
The Hero of Socialist Labor
Zurab Tsereteli was elected an Academician-Secretary of the Design Department ofthe USSR Academy of Arts.
1992
Zurab Tsereteli became a President of the Moscow International Foundation for Support to UNESCO.
Tsereteli was designated as a Head of the Design Creative Workshop of the Russian Academy of Arts.
1993
Zurab Tsereteli was appointed a chief designer of the War Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow
1994
Inauguration of the monument to St. Nina Equal to the Apostle in Tbilisi, Georgia.
A small replica ofTsereteli’s monument “Birth of a New Man” was installed in the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (France)
Holder of the Order “Friendship of Peoples”
Winner of UNESCO Picasso Prize
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation
He was designated as Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Tsereteli was in charge of the recreation of artistic decoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
1995
Unveiling ceremony for the monument “Birth of a New Man” in Seville, Spain.
Unveiling ceremony for the War Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory (Moscow, Russia).
1996
Zurab Tsereteli was designatedUNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Design and a number of sculptural compositions for the Moscow Zoo.
Tsereteli was elected a Full Member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences.
His monument “Victory” (“Marbellano”)was installed in Marbella, Spain
Winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in Literature and Art
The Order “For Services to Motherland “ 3rd rank
Zurab Tsereteli was appointed an Acting President of the Russian Academy of Arts
1997
The monument in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy (“Peter I”) designed by Zurab Tsereteli was dedicated in Moscow.
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a President of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Chief designer of the Manezh Square in Moscow
1998
His spouse InesseAndronikashvili passed away.
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Corresponding Member of San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts(Madrid, Spain).
Vermeil Medal, the highest reward of the city of Paris andthe Big Bronze Medal of Paris for his major contribution to culture and art and significant role in promoting relations between Russia, Georgia and France
The first solo exhibition of works by Zurab Tsereteli entitled “Dedication to Inesse” in Small Manezh exhibition hall (Moscow, Russia)
1999
Zurab Tsereteli set up the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, the first one in Russia dedicated to modern art and donated his private collection of the 20th century works of art to the Museum. Director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, 25 Petrovka street, Moscow
The work on the recreation of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow was completed.
2000
Busts of Leo Tolstoi and Yuri Gagarin for squares in Montevideo, Uruguay
Honorary Cross of the Association of Veterans of the French Resistance “Combattant Volontaire”
Granddaughter Victoria was born.
2001
Inauguration of the museum and exhibition complex of the Russian Academy of Arts“Tseretely Art Gallery”, 19 Prechistenka street, Moscow
Presentation of a series of his bronze reliefs “My Contemporaries” dedicated to prominent figures of the 20th century Russian culture
2002
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Corresponding Member of the French Academy of Fine Arts(Paris, France).
Unveiling ceremony for the monument to the Russian novelist Nikolai Gogol (Rome, Italy)
Order of Gabriella Mistral, Chile for his significant role in the promotion of education and culture
2003
Inauguration of the Monument to Nicholas the Wonder Worker (Bari, Italy)
Unveiling ceremony for the Monument to Princess Olga in honor of the 1100thanniversary of Pskov (Pskov, Russia)
Monument to the French novelist Honore de Balzac (Agde, France)
Monument to the founder of the Russian Academy of Arts Ivan Shuvalov in honor of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg(St. Petersburg,Russia)
Interior design and enamel panels for the “Victory Park” subway station in Moscow, Russia
2004
Inauguration of the Monument to Cossack Kharko, legendary founder of the city of Kharkov (kharkov, Ukraine)
The State Prize of Georgia
Honorary Professor of the Moscow University
2005
Solo exhibition in the Manezh central exhibition hall in St. Petersburg, Russia
“Holocaust” monument in the sculpture garden of the Presidential Palace in Jerusalem (Israel) was presented as a gift from Russia
Monument to General Charles de Gaulle (Moscow, Russia)
Monument to Alexander Peresvet, hero of the battle of Kulikovo (Borisoglebsk, Yaroslavl region, Russia)
Monument to St. George the Victorious (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Monument to the founder of the Moscow University Ivan Shuvalov in front of the Research Library of the Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)
Officer of the Order of Arts and Literature of the Ministry of Culture and Communications (France)
2006
Order “For Services to Motherland” 2nd rank (Russian Federation)
Solo exhibition in the Manezh central exhibition hall in Moscow
Unveiling ceremony for the monument To the Struggle Against World Terrorism (Bayonne, New Jersey, USA)
Monument to Emperor Peter I (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Monument to Pope John Paul II (Ploermel, France)
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation
2007
The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Solo exhibition of works by Zurab Tsereteli in the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (France)
UNESCO Picasso Gold Medal
Inauguration of the Monument to the Former Japanese Prime-Minister Itiro Hatoyama (Tokyo, Japan)
Unveiling ceremony for the bust of Sergio Vieira de Mello (Geneva, Switzerland)
Interior design, enamel panels and stained glasses for “Trubnaya” subway station in Moscow
Monument to Prince Oleg of Ryazan was unveiled in Ryazan, Russia.
Order of Bernardo O’Higgins in the highest rank of Grand Cross (Chile)
Sculptural composition “Night at the Ipatiev House” commemorating theassassination of the Tsar’s family was completed.
2008
Presentation of the sculptural composition “Wives of the Decembrists. Gates of Fate”
Zurab Tsereteli was re-elected as a Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation
2009
Inauguration of the State Museum of Contemporary Art of the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow
The construction of the Chapel of St. Alexander Nevsky was completed in the courtyard of the State Museum of Contemporary Art of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Full Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Austria)
2010
Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor (France)
Order “For Services to Motherland” 1st Rank (Russia)
Inauguration of the sculptural composition “Musketeers” in Gascony, France
2011
The Prizeof the Roman Academy of Fine Arts “For the Life in Art”
The International “Giuseppe Sciacca” Award (Rome, Vatican) for significant contribution to art
Solo shows in Rome, Palermo, Ancona (Italy)
2012
Unveiling ceremonis for the sculptural compositions “Marina Tsvetaeva” in St. Gilles Croix De Vie (France) and “Founding Fathers of the European Union” in Scy-Chazelles (Lorraine, France)
Winner of A.A. Plastov Annual International Prize in Fine Arts (Russia)
Inauguration of the monument to Petr Stolypin in Ulyanovsk
2013
Unveiling ceremony for the monument to Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya in the town of Ruza (Moscow Region, Russia)
Unveiling ceremony for the monument to Apostle Paul in Veria, Greece
Monument to the Actor Ramaz Chkhi
Inauguration of the creative project “Women’s Museum” (Moscow, Russia)
2014
“Clowns” sculptural composition. 2014.Morciano di Romagna, Italy
Bust of Nicholas II. 2014. Banja Luka, Serbia
Zurab Tsereteli was awarded the UNESCO Five Continents Medal for his contribution to world culture and in honor of the 60th anniversary of Russia’s membership in the Organization
2015
Zurab Tsereteli was elected a Member of the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts and an Advisor to the Director of the National Museum of Fine Arts of China for International Cooperation
Monument to Soldiers of the 7th Bauman Division of the National Home Guard. 2015. Moscow, Russia
Monument to the Cossacks. 2015. The Village of Brinkovskaya, Russia
Bust of the Hero of Russia – Pilot A. Maslov. 2015. The Village of Provodnik near Kolomna, Russia
Monument to the Great Russian Writer Gleb Uspensky. Tula, Russia
Commemorative Plaque for the Nobel Dynasty. 2015. St. Petersburg, Russia
“Big Three” Sculptural Composition. 2015. Yalta
“Dream of the Sky” Sculptural Composition. 2015. Museum of the ICAO Headquarters, Montreal, Canada
Monument to the Georgian Theater and Cinema Director Grigory Lordkipanidze. 2015. Tbilisi, Georgia
“Uncle Styopa-Policeman” Sculptural Composition. 2015. Samara, Russia
Honorary Cross of Culture and Art of Albert Schweitzer Association (Austria)
Honorary Civil Order “The Silver Star” in Honor of the 70th Anniversary of the Great Victory
-Award of the European Scientific and Industrial Chamber “For Significant Contribution to Art”
-Honorary award of the All-Russian Public Movement “For Preservation of the Nation”
2016
The assembly of Zurab Tsereteli’s 126 m tall sculptural composition “The Birth of the New World” dedicated to Christopher Columbus was completed in Arecibo (Puerto Rico). The monument is the second part of the two-piece project “How Europe Discovered America” in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World. The first part - the monument “The Birth of the New Man” was unveiled in Seville (Spain) in 1995.
The inauguration of the monument to poets of the 1960-s in Tver (Russia)
The bust of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was unveiled in the Republic of Altai, Russia
In the Cadet Corps in Brinkovskaya, Krasnodar Region there was unveiled a Monument to the Sotnik M.Y. Chaika whose name bears the Cadet Corps
Zurab Tsereteli House-Museum was set up in Peredelkino near Moscow
The Order “Honor and Glory to Great Russia” of the “The Power of the Fatherland” Foundation
The Order of Carl Faberge
The honorary award of the Republic of Bulgaria - the Memorable Sign “The 1150th Anniversary of the Baptism of Bulgaria”
The honorary sign of the Governor of the Tver Region “For the Good of the Tver Land”
Tsereteli was awarded the Honored Art Worker of the Karachaevo-Cherkess Republic of the RF
“For Services to the Development of Culture and Art” award of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS
Monument to the Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel-GeneralPavel A. Belov in Novomoskovsk, the Tula Region
Solo Exhibition in Verona, Italy
more
print version