Nadezhda Udaltsova

Painter, graphic artist. Wife of Aleksandrs Drevinš and mother of Andrei Drevin. Moved to Moscow with her family (1892) and graduated with honours from a grammar school for girls (1905). Studied at Konstantin Juon’s school of art (1905–07), where she met Aleksandrs Drevinš, Vera Mukhina and Lyubov Popova. Visited Berlin and Dresden (1908). After failing the entrance examination for the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1908) worked at Karol Kish’s studio (1909–11) and with Vladimir Tatlin and Alexander Vesnin at the Tower (1911). Travelled to Paris with Lyubov Popova and studied under Jean Metzinger, André Dunoyer de Segonzac and Henri Le Fauconnier at the Académie de la Palette (1912–13). Returned to Moscow (1913), where she worked at Vladimir Tatlin’s studio on Ostozhenka (1913) and attended the Weekly Art Gatherings at Lyubov Popova’s apartment (1914–15). Member of the Union of Youth (1910–14), Supremus (1915–16), Moscow Painters (1925), Society of Moscow Artists (1927–28) and Thirteen (1931). Invited by Georgy Yakulov to decorate the Café Pittoresque in Moscow (1917). Worked for IZO Narkompros and Moscow Proletcult (1918). Married Aleksandrs Drevinš (1919). Taught at the State Free Art Studios (1918–20) and VKhUTEMAS/VKhUTEIN (1920–30). Worked at the Institute of Artistic Culture (1920–21), but resigned in protest at plans to replace easel painting with industrial art. Returned to figurative art under the influence of her husband (1920s), with whom she travelled to the Altai Mountains (1929–32) and worked in Armenia (1933–35). Withdrew from public life after accusations of Formalism (1932–33) and the arrest and execution of her husband (1938). Painted portraits of members of the Romany Gypsy Theatre (1945) and still-lifes (1940s–50s). Contributed to the exhibitions of the Knave of Diamonds (1914, 1916, 1917), Tramway V First Futurist Exhibition (1915), 0.10 Last Futurist Exhibition (1915–16), Store (1916), V State Exhibition: From Impressionism to Non-Objectivity at the Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow (1918–19), Die erste russische Kunstausstellung in the Galerie Van Diemen at 21 Unter den Linden in Berlin (1922), De Eerste Russische Kunsttentoonstelling at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam (1923), Exhibition of Pictures (1923), Venice Biennale (1924), Artists of the RSFSR Over Fifteen Years in Leningrad and Moscow (1932–33), foreign exhibitions of Soviet art (1927–35) and a group exhibition of five artists at the House of Artists on Kuznetsky Most in Moscow (1958). One-woman shows in Moscow (1945) and joint shows with Aleksandrs Drevinš in Leningrad (1928) and Yerevan (1934).