Figurine “Female Skier”

Technique: Porcelain, painting.
Size: Height 21 cm.

Porcelain, overglaze painting H – 21 cm Galina Sergeevna Stolbova (1908–1996) Her professional art education began with two years of study at the studio of the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia. While studying, in 1928, Stolbova married the sculptor Vladimir Fyodorovich Bogatyrev, keeping her own surname. This was followed by study in the sculpture department of the Leningrad Academy of Arts named after I. E. Repin. Galina Sergeevna's teachers included the leading sculptors of the time: Professor Alexander Terentyevich Matveev and Viktor Alexandrovich Sinaisky. Stolbova's diploma work was the sculpture “Spanish Girl Fighter”. Having completed her studies in 1937, by then with the status of artist-sculptor, Stolbova began collaborating with Lenizo (a cooperative partnership of Leningrad artists). In these years she created the sculpture “First-Grade Schoolgirl”. While still a student, Stolbova continually made sketches of her future works, through which the theme of a happy childhood ran like a common thread. In 1940 a daughter was born to the young family – Irina Vladimirovna Bogatyreva, who later followed in her parents' footsteps and also became a sculptor. During the Great Patriotic War the young mother and her child left for Alma-Ata, where she continued to work in sculpture. In 1944 she moved to her native region, to the city of Kirov, where she joined the ranks of the Union of Soviet Artists of the city of Kirov. After the end of the war, in 1946, Stolbova returned to Leningrad, and in 1949 she was invited to work at the famous Leningrad Porcelain Factory, which would become her main place of work until 1964. A large share of Galina Sergeevna's works consists of figurines from the series “Happy Childhood”. At last the ideas she had conceived back in her student years could be brought to life. The theme of childhood always touches and delights, and this was especially relevant in the post-war years – a time of a catastrophic shortage of kind and bright emotions. It is no surprise that the figurines of this series became so loved by people and were produced at LFZ in large editions. The period of work at LFZ was marked by an intensive development of Stolbova's creative work; she constantly took part in exhibitions of Leningrad artists and in all-Union exhibitions in Moscow. Stolbova's works were often sent by the factory to exhibitions in China, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Holland and other countries. Truly vibrant and talented, kind and charming, Galina Sergeevna Stolbova lived a long creative life, leaving behind an enormous legacy for the whole country. Her works will always delight, surprise and give a sense of childlike simplicity and naivety. Author of the model: G. S. Stolbova, painter E. N. Lupanova. 1950s–1970s