Lev Lapin

Painter, engraver. Born in the family of a rich merchant called Pavel Lapin in Moscow (1898). Did not receive a systematic art education. Worked as a tutor at the Buddhist temple in Petrograd (until 1920) and then as a technical assistant of the Institute of the History of the Arts/Institute of Artistic Culture, where he met Nikolai Radlov. Advised by Nikolai Radlov to attend evening classes at the VKhUTEMAS/Institute of Proletarian Fine Art (1920s–early 1930s). Influenced by Kazimir Malevich, whom he met through his wife, Tamara Krechetova, a curator at the Russian Museum. Contributed to the First State Exhibition of Self-Taught Artists (1928?). Later worked as an engineer. Died in Leningrad and buried at the St Seraphim Cemetery (1962).