Skorikov, Yuri

Yuri Ivanovich Skorikov was born in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria Province, Russia in 1924.  He studied in the studio of Nalchik artist N. N. Gusachenko until 1942.  Following his service in the Red Army during World War II, Skorikov gained admission into the prestigious Repin Institute in Leningrad (St. Petersburg).  He completed his six year academic program in 1952, graduating from the Institute’s painting department.

Skorikov was accepted into the Union of Soviet Artists in 1954, and participated in his first All Union Art Exhibition in Moscow the following year.  He exhibited in annual all union exhibitions throughout the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and the 1980’s.  Among his more well-known shows was the Soviet Russia, held in Moscow in 1960.

Skorikov is best known for his portraits, figurative paintings and monumental works.  He specialized in Cossack paintings and his masterpiece painting, "Tamansky March", was a 3 meter by 5 meter oil on canvas depicting the Tamansky Cossacks being driven from their homelands during war.  "Tamansky March" took the artist more than 20 years from conception to completion.  Clearly, it is the crowning achievement of the talented Skorikov’s career.

Today, the artist resides in St. Petersburg.  He is listed on page 295 of Matthew Bown’s, A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Painters, 1900-1980’s.