Nikolay (Nikas) Stepanovich Safronov (; born April 8, 1956,

Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk,, , known as Simbirsk until 1924, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River east of Moscow. Ulyanovsk has been the only Russian UNESCO Ci ...

) is a

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and

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artist. He has been given the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation. Nikas Safronov was born in 1956 in

in a poor family of a retired military man, his family had six children. He graduated from

Moscow Surikov State Academic Institute of Fine Arts Moscow Surikov State Academic Institute of Fine Arts () is an art institute in Moscow, Russia. History It was created on the basis of the Moscow VKHUTEIN. It is considered the successor to the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architectur ...

. His first exhibition was held in 1978. He is best known for his series of psychological portraits of famous personalities and politicians, including

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

and several presidents of former Soviet republics. In 2025, his portrait of

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was given as a gift to the US president, taken back from Moscow to the

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. Nikas calls his painting style Dream Vision.НИКАС САФРОНОВ: Я ЖЕНАТ НА ЖИВОПИСИ
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State and public awards

For his achievements in painting Nikas Safronov was awarded the titles: * Honored Artist of Russia * Academician of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts * Professor of Ulyanovsk State University * Honorary citizen of

* Honorary citizen of

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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Safronov, Nikas 1956 births Living people Russian painters Russian male painters People from Ulyanovsk Full Members of the Russian Academy of Arts Soviet painters Russian portrait painters