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Leonid Anatolievich Purygin was born in 1951 in Naro-Fominsk, small town near Moscow.   In early 1960s he often helped his father,  who was making and selling toys.  Later when he became an artist he often used his experience and knowledge of making toys, when he created sculptures and objects. Since 1969 he worked in the art studio at the Naro-Fominsk House of Culture. He tried repeatedly  to enter the Moscow Art School “1905”, but he was not accepted, because  he was so different from others.  In 1970 he started painting and exhibiting his works. Unique approach and imagery attracted attention of art collectors and curators. He started exhibiting in Moscow and other places in group exhibitions.

In 1989 Leonid Purygin emigrated to the United States. He settled in New York  with his wife and daughter. The American period was very prolific and successful. He exhibited with many galleries in US and other countries. In the beginning of 1990s. he went to Moscow and published monograph about his art.  He passed away in Moscow in 1995 at the age of 44.

 

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Selected Collections

J.V. Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers State University, NJ. USA. 

State Tretyakov Gallery , Moscow .

Moscow Museum of Modern Art , Moscow.

Museum Ludwig , Cologne , Germany .

The Kunsthalle, Emden , Germany

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Selected Works