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About the Artist UP

IGOR V. BABAILOV,
 Hon.RAA, KStA, MFA (Ph.D), D.Litt. (Hon.Causa)

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

IGOR V. BABAILOV,  Hon.RAA, KStA, MFA(Ph.D), D.Litt.(Hon.Causa),

world-renowned portrait and figurative artist, recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2022), Honorary American Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757), Knighted Chevalier of the Order of St. Anne (est.1735), scholar and spokesperson for the traditional school of fine art, was born on February 9, 1965 in the city of Glazov, Udmurt Republic of Russia, into a family of academia. 

 

His father, Valery Babailov, was a portrait and landscape painter, and co-founded the very first preparatory fine art school in Glazov. He was also poet and composer. Igor's mother, Rosa Kudasheva Babailova, was an acclaimed and award-winning teacher of biology & chemistry. In the family of cultured and academic intelligentsia, Igor and his brother Vladislav, grew up in an environment of high professional ethics and inspired creativity. 

Art Career - The Beginning

Igor painted his first portrait at the age of four (4).  Child prodigy, he began his formal fine art education at the age of nine (9) at the preparatory art school. At the age of thirteen (13), he entered into a nationwide competition of thousands of applicants, to compete for the only opening at the most prestigious and one of only two schools of its kind in the world, the school for gifted children, specialized in classical visual art education - Moscow Secondary School of Fine Arts (later renamed The Moscow State Academic Art Lyceum under the Russian Academy of Arts). Upon strict and disciplined art exams for twenty five pre-selected children, Igor Babailov was honored to be the one to fill that special vacancy and was accepted into the school, where four years later he graduated with honors.​​ ​​​​

Igor Babailov official portrait, artist Igor Babailov, Igor Babailov photo, Igor Babailov portrait artist, Igor Babailov official photo, Portrait Artist image

High Art Education - The Academy

Having been awarded a rare recommendation by the art professors of the Art Lyceum and after successfully completing nine entry exams, Babailov was accepted into the world acclaimed  Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute (aka Surikov Academy) representing the Russian Academy of Arts, est.1757, which taught and gave the world many outstanding Masters, including the great American artist Whistler.

By Valentin Serov - Portrait of Princess Olga Orlova
Portrait of a Gipcy Man, by Valery Babailov, Igor Babailov's father.

"Portrait of a Gypsy man"

Painting by Valery Babailov, Igor Babailov's father

by Valentin Serov

By Ilya Repin

by Ilya Repin

Famous Teachers

Since the early age in his formal academic education, Igor Babailov studied under some of the finest artists in art history, and belongs to the DIRECT Academic Lineage of world-famous portrait painters, Serov and Repin.  Babailov's fine art education (1974 -1990), rooted in the curriculum of Classical Realism, especially contributed to his unparalleled skill in academic drawing (or drawing from life), which today is a fundamental challenge for many painters. 

Major Portrait Commissions

Igor Babailov is one of the most sought after portrait artists of the historic academic tradition. Deemed Living Master by the Art Renewal Center and recipient of national and international awards and honors, his commissioned portraits of world leaders, celebrities and distinguished individuals are in official public, private, corporate and museum collections, including those of: President George W. Bush (Bush Presidential Library), former First Lady Hillary R. Clinton (Clinton Presidential Library); U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito (Supreme Court of the United States); General David Petraeus - United States Army Commander and CIA Director (West Point Museum), historic new portrait of George Washington (George Washington’s Mount Vernon Museum); Pope Francis (Vatican), Pope Benedict XVI (Vatican, Rome), Pope St. John Paul II (Vatican, Castelgandolfo); Nelson Mandela (Presidential Collection, SA); Prince Andrew The Duke of York (Buckingham Palace, London); President Vladimir Putin of Russia (The Kremlin); Justice Joseph P. Sullivan (Supreme Court of New York); Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York (Giuliani Partners, NYC); Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Kirill (Moscow Patriarchate); Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (Parliament Hill, Canada); Prime Minister Jean Chretien (Collection of POWER Corporation.); Col. Christoph Graf, Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard (Vatican);  Gov. Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England;  Canadian Senator Michael Pitfield; Inventor of AK-47 Mikhail Kalashnikov; TV personality Regis Philbin; actor James Gandolfini; Isadore Sharp, Founder & CEO (Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts); Dr. Wayne Streilein (Harvard University); pianist Byron Janis and Maria Cooper Janis, (daughter of film star Gary Cooper); Ted Lazenby (The Board, Kennedy Center, by Presidential Appointment); hockey legends Bobby Hull and Vladislav Tretiak, American football stars Boomer Esiason and Tiki Barber; Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, world-renowned Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa (Steven Spielberg’s Starlight Starbright Foundation, Japan) and many others.

Official Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI by portrait artist Igor Babailov, selected by the Pope for the Vatican Splendors international museum tour and exhibited alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and other Masters of the Renaissance.

Vatican Splendors museum tour

In 2010, Vatican Curator and scholar of Michelangelo, Monsignor Roberto Zagnoli, acknowledged Igor Babailov as Maestro when his Vatican portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was selected by the Pope for the Vatican Splendors international museum tour. Babailov was honored to be the only living artist in the exhibition, as his papal portrait hung alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and other Great Masters of the Renaissance.

Multi-Figure Grand-Scale Paintings

The ability to create multi-figure murals is traditionally recognized as the highest achievement of the artistic expertise. Besides being a prolific portraitist, Mr. Babailov’s uniqueness as an artist is also evident in his large-scale Old Master-like compositions such as the historical painting, “For God, Gold and Glory”, depicting the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas (permanently featured in the Peruvian Encyclopedia Empresa Editora Il Comercio, S.A.). His multi-figured composition “Be Not Afraid”, the official historic portrait of Pope John Paul II, now a Saint, was commissioned in commemoration of the World Youth Days. It is in the Collection of the Vatican Museum and by the personal decree of the late Pope, it is displayed in Castel Gandolfo, the Papal summer residence. His epic painting “MERCY - Who has to suffer…and Why?”, portraying a crowd of diverse children of various cultural and religious backgrounds together, is currently underway and it is dedicated to the timeless issue of ongoing global humanitarian disasters (many of which are man-made) and to its innocent victims, children.

Member of the National Arts Club, in 1996 he organized the very First Official delegation visit of American artists to post-Soviet Russia and has taught at the Florence Academy of Art, Italy in 1999.

Igor Babailov - Portrait of Christopher Columbus

For Gold, God and Glory

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Banner - Russian Academy of Arts

Fine Art Education

Igor Babailov's fine art education (1974-1990) belongs to the acclaimed Russian-European Academic school of art. In the ​Direct Teacher-Student Academic Lineage of the Academy he is a third generation student of Russian Masters: Repin, Serov, Korovin, Arkhipov and Favorskiy. They taught Kulikov, Yuon, Kardovskiy, Grabar, Deineka, S.Gerasimov, Korin - world-renowned artists, who taught Mr. Babailov's professors. Igor Babailov studied directly under Zabelin, Danilichev, Chirkov, Andriaka, M.Kugach, O.Pavlov, Valery Babailov, Shatskiy, Sherbakov, Zavgorodniy, Gorbunov, legendary art historian Mikhail Alpatov and other distinguished artists and professors of Fine Art. 

  • Human Anatomy (The Anatomical Studies of the Human Form, as the fundamental of the most challenging form in visual art).

  • The Laws of Perspective  

  • Composition: The Master Rules

  • Studio Life Painting: Still-life, Cast, Portrait, Torso, 

  • Nude Figure, Clothed Figure, Group Modelsetting, concepts of colors and tonal values

  • Studio Life Drawing: Still-life, Cast, Portrait, Torso, Nude Figure, Clothed Figure, Croup Model setting, exercises in anatomy, proportions, chiaroscuro. 

  • Plein-Air Practice (national and international travels, outdoor Portraits, Landscapes, etc. all from life) 

  • Technology of Painting and Painting Materials (studied under professor O.B. Pavlov, great-grandson of the 19th century famous Russian landscape painter  Alexei Savrasov.

  • Studies of the Masters' Techniques 

  • Official Museum Copies (official permission from the Russian Ministry of Culture was obtained to make identical copies from the original works of art in major museum collections )

  • World Art History: Painting , Sculpture, Architecture from Pre-historic Art to Contemporary

Curriculum of studies included intensive training in:

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

2019 -  Doctor of Literary Letters (Honoris Causa) - Awarded by Cumberland University, USA (Founded in 1842)

2012 -  Honorary Academician of Painting - Elected by the Russian Academy of Arts (est. 1757)
1983 - 1990  Master of Fine Arts Degree - MFA / official
Ph.D. equivalent in the U.S. - CAA, NASAD. Surikov State Academic Art Institute (a.k.a. Surikov Academy of Fine Arts) of the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts (est.1757). Painting Studios of  A.Danilichev  and V.N. Zabelin.

1979 - 1983  Fine Arts Diploma and High School Diploma, Moscow Academic Lyceum of Arts under the Russian Academy of Arts. (Honors graduate, received Professors' Recommendation to the Surikov Academy) 
1974 - 1978  Fine Arts Certificate and Diploma, Preparatory School of Fine Art, Glazov, Russia (Honors graduate).

AWARDS and HONORS 

 Malta Award Igor Babailov
graduation cap
Igor Babailov, Hon. Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts
Igor Babailov Academician Medal
Knighthood of the Order of St. Anne
George Washington's Presidential Award
Order "For Service to Art", The Golden Star
Vatican - Pontifical Medal of Pope John Paul II
Official TN Senate Recognition - Resolution No 69
Honored Artist of Udmurtia, Russia
The Joe DiMaggio Official Major League Baseball Award for Portraiture - Yankee Stadium
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
General Petraeus Award "For Excellence".
Hon. Doctorate, Cumberland University - Igor Babailov

AWARDS and HONORS  (​​​​selected list)

2023    Official Vatican Pontifical Swiss Guard Seal - presented by Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, Col. Christoph Graf - Vatican, Rome

2022    Congressional Record - Tribute to Igor Babailov07.13.2022, Washington, DC

2022     Awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor  that ranks as one of the most prestigious awards in America.

2020    Granted Hereditary Nobility and official Coat of Arms by Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria, Head of The House of Romanov

2019    Distinguished Fellow - The Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

2019    Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Cumberland University (USA).

2018     Awarded the Presidential Award on behalf of President George Washington, by the President of Mount Vernon Museum, Mount Vernon, VA

2017     Knighted Chevalier of the Order of Saint Anne. (Malta, 2017)
2016     Awarded the title of Academician by the International Academy of Culture and Art

2016     Award of Apreciation -"The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution"
2015     Official Unveiling of the
Portrait of Pope Francis.
2015     Official State Recognition by the TN Senate and Governor
2012     Elected
Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757)
2012     Awarded State Title "Honored Artist of Udmurt Republic", by the President (Governor) of Udmurtia.
2012     Official
Portrait of Patriarch Kirill of Russia unveiled at the historic Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow
2010-2011     Igor Babailov's Vatican
Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI selected by the Pope for the Vatican Splendors 

museum tour, exhibited alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto, Vasari and other Masters of the Renaissance.
2011     ~ Official Major League Baseball ~ Award for Portraiture, Presented at Yankee Stadium, New York City 
2010     Commemorative Medal from the Archdiocese of St.Louis, MO presented by Archbishop R. Carlson

2009    NEW portrait of George Washington inducted into the George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum collection, Mount Vernon, Virginia

2009     Awarded Order "Service to Art" ("The Golden Star") by the International Academy of Culture and Art
2009     General David H. Petraeus Award "For Excellence", awarded by U.S. General David H. Petraeus
2006     Honored by the Vatican with the special sitting with Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Portrait.
2005     Pontifical Medal of Pope John Paul II, presented by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Luigi Ventura
2004     Portrait of Pope John Paul II, now a Saint, by the personal decree of Pope John Paul II, is displayed in Castel Gandolfo, Vatican
2004     The painting "For God, Gold and Glory" is permanently included in the Peruvian Encyclopedia, Empresa Editora Il Comercio,S.A
2003     Honorary Member, Drawing Society of Canada
2002     Honored with the title "Living Master" by the Art Renewal Center (ARC)
2001     Honorable Mention – Portrait Competition, International Artist Magazine, Australia 
1999     Honorable Mention – Portrait Competition, The Artists Magazine, U.S.A. 
1997     The Merit Award – “Realism '97 International Art Competition, Parkersburg, WV
1994     Grand Prize Winner – American Society of Portrait Artists Competition 
1993     Award “For Outstanding Achievement in Portrait Painting” – National Portrait Seminar and American Artist Magazine 
1992     Selected to create a Cover for the book "From East to West"
1990     Selected by the National Academic Committee to be one of the few students to represent the Russian Academic school in the Exhibition in Scotland. Participants included the graduates of the Surikov Academy, the Repin Academy and the Stroganov Art Institute.
1989     First Prize Winner – Annual All-students Graphic Works Competition, Surikov Academy of Fine Arts
1989     Selected to draw the portraits of Russian Celebrities, such as: A.Rosenbaum, I.Resnik, L.Dolina, E.Shifrin, B.Moiseev, to name a few.  
1988     Surikov Academy presents Babailov's academic drawing to Vietnam Academy of Art, to symbolize the  friendship between two Academies.
1983     Honors Graduate, Surikov College of Fine Art.  Professors’ Recommendation for special admition to the Surikov Academy of Fine Arts.
1981     Top Prize Award for portrait "Egorka" in the prestigious Soviet Art Colleges' National Competition, 
judged and presented by the celebrated Russian Artist Fyodor P. Reshetnikov. 
1979     Selected out of thousands in the Nation-wide competition for the only vacancy at the prestigious Surikov College of Fine Art in Moscow.

​​​​​​​

LECTURED & DEMONSTRATED  (selected list)

Present     The Russian-American Academy of Art / The Igor Babailov Institute of Realism – Master Workshops 

2019 - 2016    Cumberland University

2019 - 2018    Catholic University of America - Washington, DC

2018    International Cultural Forum - St.Petersburg, Russia

2018     Legatus Club - Washington, DC Chapter

2018     George Washington's Mount Vernon - Fellowship with Igor Babailov

2017     Rotary Club (Lebanon, TN; Brentwood, TN)
2016     The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
2015     Vanderbilt University
2014     Pope John Paul II High School, 500+ lecture attendance, Tennessee 
2012-2013     Legacy High School (for challenging children), New York City     
2011     St. Thomas Aquinas College, Nashville, TN
2010     Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
2010     Monmouth University, New Jersey
2009     Ave Maria University - Master Workshop, Lecture, Demo
2009     Portrait Society of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
2009     Dominican Sisters, the Congregation of St.Cecilia, Nashville, TN
2006-2010  Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (Stage Painting Demonstration & Lecture, critiques)
2005     Tennessee Arts Academy, Belmont University (Lecture)
2005     Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (Stage Painting Demonstration & Lecture)
2004     Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (Stage Demonstations, Workshop & Judging of the Portrait Show with Dr. Marcus Burke, Curator, Museum, Hispanic Society of America, New York City)
2003     Bellport Art council, Long Island, NY (Master Workshop / Demonstration)
2002     Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (Stage Portrait Demonstration, Canadian Society of Portrait Artists Festival) 
2000     Preparatory Art College, Glazov, Russia, (“Mastering yourself” Lecture)
1999     Florence Academy of Art - Florence, Italy (Instructor of Figure Painting in Oil, Summer Program) The International attendance of students included the art students from Four Continents.    
1999     Cincinnati Art Club, 2nd oldest Art Club in the USA (Demonstration for at least 100 people & a Master Workshop)
1999     Private instruction to Sayaka Yamaguchi, the student from Tokyo, Japan
1999     West Coast Portrait Society – Sacramento, CA USA (Master Workshops, Demos)
1997     West Coast Portrait Society – Sacramento, CA USA (Master Workshops, Demos)
1996     West Coast Portrait Society – Sacramento, CA USA (Master Workshops, Demos)    
1995     American Society of Portrait Artists – USA (Lecture/Painting Presentation) 
1994     Ontario College of Art - Canada (Lecture & Slides Presentation) 
1990 -1993   Master Workshops, Loyalist College, Ontario

 

 

SELECTED LIST OF PRESENTATIONS & EXHIBITIONS


 

2020    Portrait of Judge Seth W. Norman - official unveiling, Nashville, TN.

2019    Portrait of HIH Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich - official unveiling, Madrid, Spain.  

2018     George Washington's Mount Vernon - Fellowship with Igor Babailov

2017     Painting presentation at the San Anton Presidential Palace, Republic of Malta
2016     Multi-figurative painting "CREDO" unveiled at the National Shrine of St. John Paul II, Washington, DC
2016     Exhibition in Malta, International Academy of Culture and Art
2015-2016     Igor Babailov's Vatican Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, exhibited in the "Vatican Splendors" North American exhibit, alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and other Masters of the Renaissance.
2016     The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, CA - Vatican Splendors
2015     The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA - Vatican Splendors
2015     Official Unveiling of the Portrait of Pope Francis
2014     Portrait unveiling - Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England
2013     Portrait of His Royal Highness Prince Andrew The Duke of York, unveiled.
2012     Official Portrait of Patriarch Kirill of Russia unveiled at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow
2010-2011     Igor Babailov's Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, exhibited in the "Vatican Splendors" North American exhibition, alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and other Masters of the Renaissance.
2010     Portrait presentation to Gen. David Petraeus - AEI, Irving Kristol Award presentation event
2010     Unveiling of the portrait of Albert G. Lowenthal, Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., New York City
2009     Unveiling of the portrait of Michael Novak, Ave Maria University
2009     Unveiling of the portrait of George Washington, Mount Vernon Museum, Mount Vernon, VA
2009     Unveiling of the portrait of Reggie Jackson, Baseball Hall of Famer, New York
2008     Unveiling of the portrait of Justice Joseph P. Sullivan, The Supreme Court, New York
2008     Unveiling of the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, Washington, DC - Vatican, Rome
2008     Unveiling of the portrait of Tiki Barber, American Football Star, New York City
2007     Unveiling of the portrait of Frederick Hart and his Cross of the Millennium, collection Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, Washington, DC
2007     Unveiling of Portraits of Bob Costas and Bill Gallo, Waldorf Astoria, New York City
2006     Solo Exhibition, The Gallery at Summerlin, Las Vegas
2006     "The World Celebrities Art Fair", Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2006     Presentation of preliminary sketches to Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican
2006     Unveiling of the portrait of Isadore Sharp, Founder&Chairman, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
2006     Unveiling of the portrait of Boomer Esiason, New York City
2006     Unveiling of the portrait of John Bello, New York City 
2006     Unveiling of two portraits at the Indiana University Art Museum.
2006     Regional Museum Exhibition on Life and Works of Igor Babailov, Glazov, Russia
2006     Unveiling of Portrait of Dr. J.W. Streilein, The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard  
2005     Unveiling of James Gandolfini's portrait, Waldorf Astoria, New York City
2005     Official presentation of Frederick Hart's portrait, Russian Embassy, Washington, DC
2005     Unveiling of the Portrait of Byron Janis, Steinway Hall, Steinway & Sons, New York City
2004     State Portrait Presentation to Pope John Paul II, Vatican  
2003     Portrait Presentation to Regis Philbin, New York City 
2003     Portrait Presentation to Gouvernor Yves Fortier, Hudson’s Bay Company 
2002     State Portrait Presentation to President George W. Bush, The White House, Washington, DC 
2002     Portrait Presentation to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York, NY 
2002     State Portrait Presentation, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Parliament Hill
2002     State Portrait Presentation to President V. Putin, Moscow, Russia 
2002     State Portrait Presentation to V. Tretiak, Moscow, Russia 
2001     State Portrait Presentation to Nelson Mandela, Ottawa, Canada 
2001     Portrait Presentation to Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien 
2001     Solo Exhibition and Launch of the Russian Sponsored Book, Russia 
2000     State Presentation of the Portrait of M. Kalashnikov, Central Armed Forces Museum, Russia 
2000     Unveiling of the Portrait of Dr. R. Kilmura, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 
1999, 98, 97     Art Auction, Alzheimer Society (Benefit) 
1999     Solo Exhibition, Ogilvy’s Ltd., Montreal (Benefit for Emmanuelle Masson School for disabled children) 
1999     Art Auction, Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Palm Beach, Florida (Benefit) 
1999     Annual Exhibition of Portrait Brokers of America, Inc. (Conference) .
1996     Joint American-Russian Art Exhibition, Kolomna (dated 1078), Russia.
1996     "Vernisazh" Solo Exhibition, HEIM America at Fisher Island Gallery, Florida 
1995     Solo Exhibition, Metro Toronto Convention Center, Toronto 
1995     Art Auction, Shaw Festival, Toronto (Benefit) 
1993     Solo Exhibition, Portraits Inc. Montreal 
1992     International Foundation for Peace Through Culture, Ottawa 
1989     Glasgow College of Art, Scotland 

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS  ​(Selected list)
 

2018    International Cultural Forum (Speaker) - St. Petersburg, Russia

2016   Exhibition in Malta, International Academy of Culture and Art
2015- 2016   Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI exhibited at the Vatican Splendors museum tour in North America. 
2012   Elected Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757) -  Life Membership 
2010-2011  Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI selected by the Pope to represent His Papacy at the Vatican Splendors museum tour in North America. 
2009   International Academy of Culture and Art - 
2008   Unveiling of the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, Washington, DC - Vatican, Rome
2006   "The World Celebrities Art Fair", Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2003   Pre-Unveiling tour of the portrait of Pope John Paul II (New York-Montreal-Toronto-Vatican) 
2002   State Portrait Presentation to President V. Putin, Moscow, Russia 
2002   State Portrait Presentation to V. Tretiak, Moscow, Russia 
2001   State Portrait Presentation to Nelson Mandela, Ottawa, Canada
2000   Preparatory Art College, Glazov, Russia, (“Mastering yourself” Lecture)
1999   Florence Academy of Art - Florence, Italy (Instructor of Figure Painting in Oil, Summer Program) The International attendance of students included the art students from Four Continents.   
1996   Organized the very First Official delegation of American artists to Russia in conjunction with the DUMA (Russian Parliament) and the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation. The agenda included trips to the Art Museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg and Plein Air painting with the group of prominent Russian artists, resulting in the joint Art Exhibition, featured in print media.
1992   International Foundation for Peace Through Culture, Ottawa 
1989   Selected by the Surikov Academy to represent the Russian School of Drawing at the exhibition in Scotland.

COLLECTIONS

Igor Babailov created over 2,000 portraits and other works. More than half of these are in official public, private and corporate collections around the world. They include: 

CORPORATE & OFFICIAL  (Selected list - alphabetical order)
 

Albert College - Ontario, Canada
Ave Maria University - Naples, Florida
Bank of Canada
Boston Eye & Ear Hospital 
Buckingham Palace, London, England
Bush Presidential Center - Dallas, TX

Catholic University of America - Washington, DC
Central Armed Forces Museum, Moscow, Russia
Clinton Presidential Center - Little Rock, Arkansas
Consulate General of Russia - Montreal
Contrans Corporation 
Corporate Planning Associates -Toronto
Cramer, Rosenthal, McGlynn, LLC - New York City
Essroc Cement, Inc. - Portrait of Harvey McFarland - Picton, ON
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts (HQ) - Full-length portrait of Founder and CEO, Isadore Sharp - Toronto
George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum - Mount Vernon, VA
Giuliani Partners, LLC - New York City
Harvard University, Medical School, Cambridge, MA
House of Commons, Parliament Hill, Canada - Heritage Collection, Gallery of Prime Ministers - Canada
Hudson’s Bay Company (est. 1670) - Hall of Fame, Portraits of Gouvernors - Toronto, Canada
Hummingbird Communications - Toronto, Canada

Imperial House of Romanov - Madrid, Spain
Indiana University Art Museum
Indiana University Foundation

Justice A.A. Birch Court Building, Nashville, TN.

Kremlin, Moscow, Russia - Presidential Collection
Kurosawa Productions, Tokyo, Japan
McDonald's Corporation 
Monmouth University - Seven portraits displayed at the University's Portrait Gallery, New Jersey
National Bank of Canada
Nelson Mandela Presidential Collection, South Africa
Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., New York City
Patriarchate, Russia
Presidential Foundation, Presidential Palace - Republic of Malta
Power Corporation of Canada
Reitmans Inc., Montreal
Rhone - Poulenc Rorer Inc., France - U.S.A,, Philadelphia, PA
Russian Nobility Association in America, New York City
San Anton Presidential Palace, Republic of Malta
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School 
Somiper Inc. Canada
Starlight-Starbright Children's Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
Steinway & Sons, New York City

Supreme Court of the United States - Washington, DC
Supreme Court of the State of New York - New York City

Synergistics Industries Ltd.- Toronto

The White House, Washington, DC

Vanderbilt University Medical School, Children's Hospital - Nashville, TN
Vatican Museums, Vatican 

Vatican, Castel Gandolfo

Vatican Nunciature, Washington, DC

Vatican Collection of Commanders of the Pontifical Swiss Guard
Vietnam Academy of Art
West Point Military Academy Museum, New York

 


WORLD LEADERS, DISTINGUISHED FAMILIES, PERSONALITIES   (Selected list)
 

His Holiness Pope Francis
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Nelson Mandela, President, South Africa
George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States of America

Justice Samuel Alito, Supreme Court of the United States
General David H. Petraeus, Commander, United States Central Command, CIA Director
George Washington - NEW Portrait (Collection: Mount Vernon Museum) 
H.E. Vladimir V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation
Patriarch Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia
Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada
Jean Chretien, 20th Prime Minister of Canada
Hillary R. Clinton, First Lady of the United States
His Royal Highness Prince Andrew The Duke of York

Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna
H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta
Gov. Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England
Senator and Mrs. Douglas Henry, United States 
Senator Michael Pitfield, Canada
Senator Herman Moore, North Carolina, United States 
Senator A.P. Torshin, Vice-Speaker - Federarion Council of Russia
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York
Justice Joseph P. Sullivan, the Supreme Court of New York
Amb. Michael Novak - U.S.Ambassador to UN Human Rights Com., American Enterprise Institute
Governor Y. Fortier - Hudson's Bay Company (est.1667)
Archie W. Dunham, CEO, ConocoPhillips, Houston,TX

Dr. C. Wright Pinson, CEO, Vanderbilt Health System - Nashville, TN

Dr. Billy K. Hudson and Dr. Julie H. Hudson, Nashville, TN
Dr. Cyril Geacintov - President, Russian Nobility Association in America
Prince & Princess Vladimir Galitzine, New York
Prince Ivan Obolensky, New York
Fred "Ted" W. Lazenby, Kennedy Center, Advisory Board, Washington, DC 
Madame Lucie Vanier Vincent, niece of The Rt.Hon. Georges Vanier, The Governor General of Canada
Frank Military, Legendary Music Publisher, Vice-President, Warner Chappell Music, NYC
Byron Janis - American Pianist
Maria Cooper Janis - daughter of Film Star Gary Cooper
Isadore Sharp, Founder & CEO of The Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Regis Philbin - TV Personality, Creator of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" 
James Gandolfini - Actor

Tony Lo Bianco - Actor
Mikhail Kalashnikov - Legendary Inventor of AK-47.
Dr. Allan Sniderman - Renowned Cardiologist
Boomer Esiason - American Football Star
John Bello - Founder of SoBe beverage
Reggie Jackson, Baseball Hall of Famer
Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, owner of "Detroit Tigers", Founder of city of Ave Maria, FL
Dr. Wayne Streinlein, Harvard University Medical School, Cambridge, MA
Dr. Jeff Balser, MD, Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Julie K. Hudson, MD, Vanderbilt University
Dolph von Arx, Naples, FL 
Gerald Cramer - New York City
Dr. Robert Kimura, Leading U.S. Researcher of the Inner Ear, Boston, MA
Peter McConnell, Montreal
R. Regelbrugge, Charlotte, NC
Tiki Barber - American Football Star

Maria Bartiromo - TV host, FOX
Dr. R. Blackwell, Charlotte, NC
David & Julia Bianchi, Miami, FL 
Bob Costas - 17 Emmy Award recipient
George Cohon, CEO, McDonald's Corporation, Toronto
Steven Ross, Toronto
Bennett Lebow, Fisher Island, FL
Mr. & Mrs. Andre Lemire, Montreal 
Mr. & Mrs. Louis Desmarais, Montreal 
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence D. Glaubinger, New York City
Mr. & Mrs. Ben Sawatzky, British Columbia, Canada
Joseph Steinberg, New York City 
Aziza Mustafa-Zadeh - Jazz Maestro, Germany
Robert "Bobby" Hull -  Hockey Legend
Peter Quaife - "The Kinks", UK
Vladislav Tretiak -  Hockey Legend, Moscow, Russia
Ms. Natasha - granddaughter-in-law of Nikita Khrushchev  
Boris Moiseev - Entertainer, Moscow
Ilya Resnik - Songwriter, Moscow
Larisa Dolina - Russian Pop Star
Efim Shifrin - Russian Comedian
Vladimir Vinokur - Russian Entertainer
Ignat Solzhenitsyn - son of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, portraits of children

FEATURED IN (Selected List)

Present Marquis Who’sWho in America

2017-2018   Catholic University of America - media

2017-2018    Features in Russian newspapers about Igor Babailov's Knighthood.

2017    "Times of Malta" - Republic of Malta

2015-2016    Vatican Splendors - Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA ~ Ronald Reagan Presidential Library - Exhibition Catalogue

2014-2015    Media news about the Portrait of Pope Francis.

2013    Cassone, The International Art Magazine, United Kingdom

2013    The Tennessean 

2013    Magazine Antikvar, Kiev, Ukraine

2012    Russian print-media and TV, re: Patriarch's portrait and State Award "Honored Artist of Udmurtia"

2011    Fine Art Connoisseur

2010-2011    Vatican Splendors - St.Louis, MO ~ Pittsburgh, PA ~ Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Exhibition Catalogue

2009    "Hunger for Beauty"  (MercantorNet, online publication)

2008    "Portraits de Famille"  (Le Temps, leading Swiss magazine, Switzerland)

2008    "Reviving the Renaissance; A President With Leadership" - ZENIT publication (Rome)

2008    Associated Press - National and International Print Media

2008    National Review's feature by Michael Novak

2008    Vatican Insider with, EWTN

2008    New York Daily News

2007    Illustrated bestseller Book "Ford and the American Dream -Founded On Right Decisions"

2007    "AskMen - Fine Living Top 10 Portrait Artists" 

2006    Life Interview with TV Channel 3 News, Las Vegas

2006    "The World Celebrities Art Fair"Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Japan 

2006    Global news about the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, newspapers, interviews

2006    TV news about infringment of the copyright of Igor Babailov's paintigs. 

2006, 2005    The Russian Nobility Ball, New York City

2005    "Quest" Magazine, New York City

2005    A Taste of Thailand, Washington, DC 

2004   Peruvian Encyclopedia, Empresa Editora Il Comercio,S.A   

2004   "In Focus" Magazine

2004   EWTN Global Catholic Radio (live interviews), U.S.A. 

2004    Moscow Times, Russia 

2004   Robb Report Magazine 

2003    New York Family Magazine - U.S.A./International  

2003    "Live with Regis & Kelly" TV Show

2003    Dan’s Papers – Long Island/Manhattan 

2003, 2002   New York Times, Brooklyn Papers, New York – U.S.A. 

2002    Globe and Mail - Canada 

2002    National Post - Canada 

2002    Magazine Art - Canada 

2001    PRIMO (Italian-American) Magazine - U.S.A. 

2001    "Udmurtia", book about the Udmurtia Region, Russia

2001    “Contemporary Russian Realists”

2001    International Artist - Australia  

1999   The Finer Things in Life – U.S.A. 

1999, 98   The Artist Magazine – U.S.A. 

1998    Focus Magazine – U.S.A. 

1997    Classical Realism Journal – U.S.A. 

1997    Selecta Magazine – U.S.A.

1996    CJOH TV News

1996, 95, 94    Portrait Signature – U.S.A. 

1995    Solo Exhibition, National TV News, Canada

1995    Featured in the film-documentary about Alla Pugachyova, Russian Pop Star

1992    Selected to create a Cover for the book "From East To West" by Antonina Demczyna

1989    "Moskobskiy Komsomolets", National Newspaper (featured with the portrait of the Winner of the international Jazz competition in Washington, Aziza Mustafa-Zadeh), Russia

1989    Glasgow College of Art Exhibition Catalog, Scotland

 

 

ESSAYS by Igor Babailov

2017  Resurrection of Realism - Beauty will Save the World

2007   Letter to Artists and Art Students

2005  The SEVEN Essentials to Commissioning A Portrait

2002  Italian Influence in Art - PRIMO Italian-American magazine

2001   Why We Must Keep The Traditions Alive ‘International Artist’ - Australia  

1999, 98  ‘The Artist’s Magazine’ – USA

1997   Keeping the Academic Tradition - ‘Classical Realism Journal’ – USA 

1996, 95, 94   ‘Portrait Signature’ – USA 

1982   Before Impressionism and after.

 

 

FILMS on the Artist

 

DVD “Igor Babailov” directed and produced by Matt Bush Productions – nationally televised in Japan  for the World Celebrities Art Fair – Starlight Starbright Foundation (Steven Spielberg – Chairman Emeritus)

 

 

BOOKS 

  • "Four Seasons:The Story of Business Philosophy" (Igor Babailov's portrait featured on the back cover), by Isadore Sharp,CEO  2009

  • ‘Paulina the Sky Girl’  co-authored and illustrated by Igor Babailov – a children’s fiction novel on fighting bullying in schools. 2003

  • From East to West - book cover. By Antonina Demczina, 1992

HONORARY DEGREES

2019  Honorary Doctorate -  Cumberland University (USA).

2016  Honorary Academician -   International Academy of Culture and Art

2012  Honorary Academician -   Russian Academy of Arts (Founded in 1757)

MEMBERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

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