Alexander Erastovich Tyulkin

Alexander Erastovich Tyulkin – a Russian and Soviet painter, the founder of the visual arts of Bashkortostan, People's Artist of the Bashkir ASSR, Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR, and chairman of the Union of Artists of the Bashkir ASSR. Tyulkin was born on 19 (30) August 1888 into a peasant family. His father was Porfiry Ananyevich Sokolov, his mother was Varvara Andreeva. In 1901 he was adopted by Erast Elizarievich Tyulkin and took his surname and patronymic. From 1912 to 1918 he studied at the Kazan Art School. After graduating he returned to Ufa.

In Ufa Tyulkin was actively involved in organizing the city's artistic life. He founded the Ufa branch of the Higher State Art and Technical Studios. His research work included travels across Bashkiria, where he studied the everyday life and culture of the Bashkir people. Tyulkin also took part in an expedition to Central Asia, collecting exhibits for the Museum of the Peoples of the East in Ufa. In addition to easel painting, he worked in monumental painting and from 1926 to 1950 taught at the Bashkir State College of Arts. Many well-known Bashkir artists were his students. Alexander Erastovich Tyulkin died on 18 March 1980 and was buried in the Southern Cemetery of Ufa.