Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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An exhibition by a St. Petersburg artist has opened at the Technopolis Polytech research building. Elena Artsutanova, the great-granddaughter of the first director of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute, Prince Andrei Gagarin.
The exhibition is dedicated to the 170th anniversary of Andrei Grigorievich's birth. According to the old calendar, the first director of the Polytechnic University was born on December 22, 1855. He passed away in December 1920. Elena Artsutanova passed away in December 2024. The exhibition, dedicated to the memory of both Gagarins, embodies the connection between generations of this family through the Polytechnic University.
The opening ceremony was attended not only by Polytechnic University staff and students, but also by Elena Dmitrievna’s close friends, colleagues, and students.
"Today, for the first time, an exhibition dedicated to the memory of our beloved Elena Artsutanova opens within these walls," said artist, teacher, and member of the Creative Union of Artists Svetlana Zapolskaya. "Her great-grandfather, Prince Andrei Gagarin, was the first rector of the university. Elena treasured her family's memory and maintained close ties with the university. Three memorable dates coincided in December, and this exhibition is dedicated to them. The works on display here reflect the world of Elena Artsutanova, with its rhythms, forms, color flows, and accents."
Svetlana Zapolskaya reported that on September 14, 2025, the burial of Gagarin's great-granddaughter next to her great-grandfather took place in Kholomki in a solemn ceremony. Furthermore, in September, the estate continued the tradition of holding plein air paintings, as was the case with Elena Dmitrievna.
Artist, graphic designer, and member of the Creative Union of Artists, Marina Oz, on behalf of Elena Dmitrievna's friends, family, and followers, expressed sincere gratitude to the Polytechnic University for its support in organizing the exhibition and its sensitive attention to the Gagarin family's memorable date.
"When creating this exhibition, we remembered how meticulously and thoughtfully Elena Dmitrievna approached the display of her works," Marina said. "We made every effort to convey the spirit of her paintings in our new university space. We received invaluable assistance from Elena Dmitrievna's friend and colleague, artist and teacher Olga Leonidovna, as well as her loyal allies from the RGB creative group. For us, this exhibition is a meeting of two worlds: the world of her great-grandfather's precise engineering and the emotional creativity of his great-granddaughter. Through the language of color, Elena Dmitrievna continues the humanitarian tradition of the Gagarin family."
SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy offered a few welcoming remarks: "Today is a significant day for us, because on this day a great man was born who accomplished great things for his country. His achievements are still remembered with reverence and are realized, because he is also remembered as an outstanding engineer. The most important thing for any civilization is to remember its history. This applies to our university as well. We would like to present a gift for Andrey Grigoryevich's anniversary—publish an album of Elena Dmitrievna's artwork. We will present it to our most distinguished guests as a creative legacy of Andrey Gagarin's descendants."
After welcoming remarks, the Polytechnic University rector, along with Andrei Gagarin's great-great-granddaughter, Sofia Korotkova, cut the symbolic ribbon and invited guests to view the exhibition, which occupied three floors of the NIK hall.
Elena Artsutanova was a vibrant artist whose abstract works are a powerful poetry of color. For her, color is the primary carrier of emotion. An active participant in the artistic life of St. Petersburg, a member of the Union of Artists and the Pushkinskaya-10 Art Center, she exhibited her work in Russia and abroad. Elena Dmitrievna was not only an original artist but also a teacher and mentor, bringing together creative people.
The exhibition of Elena Artsutanova's works at the Polytechnic University became a tribute to the Gagarin family.
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