Renowned Soviet and Russian artist Erik Bulatov has died in Paris at the age of 92, media reported Sunday.
Bulatov emerged in the 1970s as a leading figure of the Soviet pop art scene, bending figurative imagery with slogans and text to challenge state propaganda.
In 2025, The Art Newspaper Russia placed Bulatov at the top of its list that ranks the overall value of sold works by living Russian artists. His 1975 painting “Glory to the CPSU [Communist Party]” was sold in London for $2.1 million in 2008.
Born Sept. 5, 1933, in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), and educated at the Surikov Art Institute in Moscow, Bulatov began his career illustrating children’s books.
He later founded the Sots Art movement, a postmodernist approach combining text and imagery, alongside the Moscow Conceptualists, a collective exploring conceptual and philosophical themes in art.
Bulatov lived in New York from 1989, then relocated permanently to Paris in 1992. He frequently undertook projects in Russia, including a large mural in 2020 and his 90th birthday retrospective in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Though the official cause of Bulatov’s death has not been detailed, the state-run TASS news agency cited a family friend saying he died at a hospital in Paris after treatment for lung disease.
A memorial service for Bulatov will be held in Paris, and he will be buried in Moscow, the family friend was quoted as saying.
He is survived by his wife, Natalia Bulatova.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
