1917 - 1996 Vladimir Masik was born on June 7, 1917 in the city of Katerinoslav (today Dnipropetrovsk).  The following year his family moved to Konotop, where he studied and apprenticed in a locomotive building plant.  It was here that Masik joined an art studio at the railway workers club. In 1935, Masik became a second year student of the Dnipropetrovsk Art School. After graduating, he enrolled at the Kharkov Institute of Art. In 1939, he was called to service in the Red Army. Masik was sent to the front line as an assistant battalion commander. In 1942, he was severely wounded and returned to Konotop the following year.  Masik’s first exhibition was at the club of the locomotive building plant and was a success. He portrayed front line and hospital sketches. Determined to continue his art education, he enrolled in the Kiev Institute of Art working under K. Trokhimenko, head of the workshop of battle paintings. He graduated in 1950 and worked as Director of the Kiev School of Decorative and Applied Art. Later he resigned this position to devote himself exclusively to creative works.   Masik was awarded the prestigious title of the USSR Honoured Artist.   He is listed in Matthew Bown’s, A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Painters 1900-1980’s.