Ivan Pustoshkin

Ivan Pustoshkin (2nd of March 1940, Abrene District, Republic of Latvia) – a water-colour painter.

Ivan Pustoshkin was born in Stepkovo village of Abrene district (now Pytalovo district of Pskov oblast, Russian Federation). 

In 1955 Pustoshkin moved to Riga and in the following year enrolled into Riga Art School. After finishing his studies in 1959 he started working at "Dzintars" industrial plant, which produced sport boats. In 1962-1965 Pustoshkin served in the Soviet army. 

After returning from the active service, Pustoshkin continued his work at "Dzintars" and became seriously interested in rowing. In 1966-1968 he participated in six championships of the USSR. In 1970 he received the title of the people's master of applied arts. Artist Georgy Shelkovoy insisted that Pustoshkin enrolled into the Latvian State Academy of Arts. In 1971-1974 he studied at the night courses of industrial design. Later, he continued his studies at the studios of Mikhail Kornetsky (1977-1982), Eduards Kalniņš (1985-1987), Vladimir Kozin (1999-2005).  

Since 1965 Ivan Pustoshkin has been participating in different exhibitions, also including international. Since 1974 he has been exhibiting his own water-colours and graphical drawings. Pustoshkin participated in 40 group exhibitions. At the beginning of 1990ies his personal exhibitions took place in Prague, Pskov, Berlin, Warsaw, Gdansk, Helsinki, Moscow, Toronto, Yalta, and several times in Riga and Jurmala. In 1993 I. Pustoshkin was invited by the Danish Institute of Culture to visit Kopenhagen and ofther cities of Denmark with his personal exhibitions. His works are kept in the collections of different museums and institutions in Latvia and Russia, as well as in private collections in Germany, Canada, USA, Greece, Belgium, Izrael, Finland, Australia, China and Latvia.  

Alexander Malnach