Zaven Arshakuni was born in Leningrad on the 13th of May, 1932. He lives and works here for all his life. Lived through the city's siege during the Great Patriotic War, and lost his parents then. Z. Arshakuni studied at art school by Russian Academy of Arts (1946-1953), then at the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.E.Repin. (1954-1961). From 1962 - member of Russian Union of Artists. 1972 - participant of "Group 11"; from 1992 - member of Dyagilev Center of Arts, St-Petersburg; from 1995 - member of Saint-Petersburg Academy of Modern Arts.
One of the leading artisits in St-Petersburg, Z. Arshakuni works in all general forms of painting - landscape, still life, genre, portrait, scriptural painting; graphics (drawing, watercolor, etching, lithography, book graphics, linoleum engraving); decor, dress, scale modeling; applied arts (wood carving and painting).
Z. Arshakuni mounted 9 performances in theatres of Saint-Petersburg. Made illustrations to 6 books of St-Petersburg poets. From 1960 till nowadays - participant of more than 200 exhibitions (local, all-Russia and international), among which 23 personal exhibitions. Creative works of Z. Arshakuni are on display in more than 40 museums of Russia and other countries.
