Sergey Ivanovich Chirkov

Sergey Ivanovich Chirkov was a painter and educator. He was born in 1924 in the village of Panfilovo, Muromsky Uyezd, Vladimir Governorate (now Muromsky District, Vladimir Oblast). During the Great Patriotic War (World War II) he served on the 2nd Ukrainian Front, producing numerous sketches and drawings. In 1946 his works were exhibited at an exhibition of war artists in Romania. In 1948 Chirkov was demobilized early and enrolled in the Moscow State Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov, which he graduated from with honors in 1954. He also completed his postgraduate studies in 1957.

From 1956 to 1994 Chirkov taught at the Surikov Art Institute, served as dean of the painting faculty, and worked as Deputy Minister of Culture of the RSFSR. At his initiative, in 1975 the first rural art gallery in Vladimir Oblast was opened. Chirkov was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR; his works are held in Russian museums and in private collections abroad. Sergey Ivanovich Chirkov passed away in 1994 and was buried in his native village of Panfilovo.