Albert Goltyakov

Albert Goltyakov (1924, Tula, Russian SFSR – 2016, Riga, Republic of Latvia) – an artist, a docent of the Latvian Academy of Arts.

Albert Goltyakov was born in Tula, both his parents were workers. During the Second World War he fought at the 1st Baltic Front, was awarded with orders and medals. 

He studied artistic metal fabrication at the Krasnoye Selo Technical College (1948-52).

In 1959 he graduated from the Department of Graphic Art of Latvian State Academy of Arts (LSAA). 

He graduate work was an illustration to the novel by E.M. Remarque "A Time to Love and a Time to Die". Adviser - Pēteris Upītis. 

He had been participating in exhibitions since 1958 and became a member of the Union of Artists in 1964. 

In 1959/60 academic year he became a senior instructor at the night preparation courses of LSAA, in 1960/61 academic year he worked at the Department of Drawing. Since 1961 he had been working as a senior instructor at the Department of Graphic Art of LSAA and from 1961 to 1971 he had been the dean of the Department of Easel Art and a docent since 1970. 

Publicistic and patriotic motives prevail in the art of Albert Goltyakov. 

At the start of his career he was making the series of linocuts dedicated to the revolution and Second World War. During the following years, he turned to painting, to massive figure compositions, in which he tried to express his opinion regarding the past and the future of mankind. In his works, he used solid composition, perfect drawing. He also worked in the fields of book graphic art and poster art. 

Albert Goltyakov died in Riga on the 22nd of March 2016 and was buried at the 2nd Forest Cemetery. 

Source of information:

Latvijas PSR Valsts Mākslas akadēmija. – Rīga «Avots», 1989. g., 199. lpp.