Alexey Naumov

Alexey Naumov (10th of January 1955, Riga, Latvian SSR) – Latvian Russian landscape artist, rector of Latvian Art Academy (2007-2017). 

Alexey Naumov descends from the family of Russian Old Believers, who moved to the territory of contemporary Latvia in the 18th century. The boy inherited his drawing skills from the father, so the parents sent him to study at the J. Rozentāls Riga Art School. Later, Alexey enrolled into the department of monumental painting of Latvian State Academy of Arts, where he studied in 1974-1980. 

After the graduation, Naumov received a vacancy of a teacher of drawing at the secondary school of Carnikava, where he had been working for 6 years. This work relieved him from service in the Soviet Army. Simultaneously, he studied at the class of Eduards Kalniņš (1980–1983). 

His first independent work was a monumental decorative wall painting at the hall of the Medical School Nr. 5 on the territory of "Gaiļēzers" hospital, as well as sketches of glass-stained windows, which were developed toghether with his study-mate Ilze Avotiņa. 

In 1980ies he received an order for a monumental wall painting - an encaustic "Līgo. The Day of Song" at the sanatorium "Latvija" in Jūrmala.

In 1987-1988 with the support from the Union of Artists of Latvian SSR and the government of France Alexey Naumov received a scholarship and probated at the Sorbonne and the Partis School of Fine Arts (1987–1988). At the Sorbonne he studied, and later also worked as a teacher.

In 1992 Naumov became a Master of Arts at the Latvian Academy of Arts and started working at his alma mater: docent (1992), professor (1994). 

In 1997 he became a prorector and since 2007, for two five-year terms, was elected as a rector.

During his work at the head of the Academy, it had started cooperation with 150 higher educational institutions abroad and also received new real estate for study purposes, as well as received support from local patrons of arts. 

At the moment, A. Naumov is working at the academy. The main focus of his activites is the field of landscape painting in Latvia and abroad (France, Italy, USA).

He supports the increase of funding Latvian museums, so that they would be able to purchase paintings by moders artists. 

Alexey Naumov is married to his colleague Anita Paegle - a book illustrator and a member of the International Council on Children Literature. 

EXHIBITIONS

A. Naumov started participating in exhibitions since 1977. From that time onwards his works were regularly shown at the exhibitions by the students of the Academy and young artists of Latvian SSR and other republics. The artist participated in group exhibitions of Latvian artists in Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Italy, USA. Throughout his career, Naumov participated and organized more than 60 exhibitions.

His first personal exhibition took place in 1982 in West Berlin and later, at the end of 1980ies he held exhibitions in Newcastle (Great Britain), Paris and Riga. Afterwards, his exibitions regularly take place in Latvia and abroad: in Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands.  

His works were purchased by the Latvian National Art Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow, Russia), the Museum of the Union of Latvian Artists, private collections of modern art of Swedbank and Ventspils Nafta, Russian Art Foundation and the City Museum of Alcamo (Sicily, Italy). 

He believes that a modern artist must develop his/her career by oneself in order to achieve success - to self-manage, not only by organizing exhibitions, but also lectures, meetings, educational events. As a rector of the Academy of Arts, he organized cooperation and exhibition projects in Italy, France, Japan, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Russia, USA. 

Awards:

2004: Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (Italy).

2009: Cross of Recognition (Atzinības Krusts, Latvia).

2016: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France).

Ludmila Pribilsky

Source of information:

https://arterritory.com/lv/vizuala_maksla/intervijas/21366-atpakal_pie_patiesam_jutam