Mikhailov, Konstantin

1908 - 1996

Konstantin Mikhailov was born in Russia, March 19, 1908. He began his formal art studies quite late in life, becoming a student at the Tallinn (capital of Estonia) State Designer’s Institute in 1947, at the age of 39. During his three years at the Institute, he studied painting under noted Estonian art professors A. Jansen and L. Mikko. After graduating from the Designer’s Institute, Mikhailov continued his studies at the prestigious Repin Institute of Art in Leningrad. While a student at the Repin, he studied under > Avilov, and his counselor for his diploma work was Pthe famous Professor J. Neprintsev. He received his diploma from the Repin in 1954, at the age of 46.

During his final year at the Repin Institute in 1954, Mikhailov also began pursuing his master’s degree in pedagogy (the science of teaching) via correspondence from the Pedagogical Institute of Moscow. His ultimate goal of teaching art to young people was advanced by his thesis, "Developing Children’s Feelings and Talents through the Sharing of Art". The artist received his master’s degree in 1966, at the age of 58.

After graduating from the Repin Institute of Art in 1954, Mikhailov became a teacher of painting and drawing at the Estonia Soviet Socialist Republic (ESSR) State Art Institute in Tallinn. He was honored with his first exhibition in 1961 in Johvi, Estonia. His second exhibition was in 1963 at the Harju District collective farm, "People’s Victory". In 1973, he was feted with a one man show at the State Gallery of Art Exhibitions in Tallinn. Mikhailov was honored on his 70^th birthday by the Estonian art community with a personal exhibition in the capital city.

Mihailov was a member of the Union Artists of the USSR. His artistic travels were extensive and included Ministry of Culture assignments in Siberia, Mongolia and Russia proper.

The talented Mikhailov enjoyed painting virtually all subject matters and was equally comfortable painting portraits, nature or figurative compositions. In addition to achieving success as an artist, Mikhailov was well-respected in art circles as a student and teacher of art. In spite of a demanding professional schedule, Mikhailov found the time to teach art to prisoners in Estonian prisons and to orphans in the State orphanages.

Mikhailov died in Tallinn in 1996. He is survived by his second wife, His first wife preceded him death. He had no children.

He is listed on page 208 of Matthew Bown’s, A Dictionary of twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Painters, 1900 – 1980’s.