Murat Kaboulov | (January, 1939 – September, 2010)

Nashville Arts Magazine pays tribute this month to noted and beloved Nashville artist Murat Kaboulov who passed away unexpectedly. His presence in the arts community will be greatly missed. His paintings, though, will continue to give viewers the chance to see the world through his unique perspective. In his obituary, Kaboulov’s family said, “A part of him will continue to live in each piece of his work.”

Kaboulov found joy in art from the time that he could barely hold a pencil in his hand. He began drawing in his native Russia at age 5, and he never stopped. As a young man, he attended the I. E. Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in St. Petersburg. Trained in classical tradition, he integrated his knowledge of form with his colorful, expressive approach to technique. In a 2006 interview, he claimed, “Even if you want to break the rules, you still have to know the rules.”

Moving to Brentwood in 1992, Kaboulov and his family began a new life in the United States. A stranger in a strange land, he remained positive and excited about his future. He said, “America and I embraced each other.” A member of the Tennessee Art League, Portrait Society of America, and Russian Artists Union, Kaboulov achieved worldwide renown for his work.

In his artist’s statement, Kaboulov mused, “Perhaps viewing a piece of art is similar to a dialogue with its creator, who must have felt and experienced a lot before he picked up a brush and dipped it in paint. The images that I reflect in my art often come to me with the ephemeral streaks of sunset and with the tremulous shadows of night, but even more often they are born of the long and crowded days that line up, striving to linger in my memory.”

A Tribute show featuring Murat’s work exhibits at LeQuire Gallery on Charlotte Avenue beginning January 15 and continuing through March 12. A special reception will be held in his honor on Saturday, February 5, 6–8 p.m.