Animals and birds of Irina Makoveeva

Location: main building / 2nd floor / 2nd floor gallery

The State Darwin Museum opens the exhibition “Beasts and Birds of Irina Makoveeva”, dedicated to the work of the Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Irina Petrovna Makoveeva, one of the most prominent representatives of the modern domestic animalistic school.

Works by I.P. Makoveeva are in the Graphics Room of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. A. S. Pushkin, State Russian Museum, State Biological Museum named after. K. D. Timiryazev, Moscow Zoo Museum and in private collections abroad. Irina Petrovna is an Honorary Donor of the Darwin Museum; the collection currently contains 395 of her works, 163 of which were donated by the author.

Over many years of creative activity, traveling not only throughout Russia, but also in different countries, Irina Petrovna continues to learn from nature, which generously reveals its innermost secrets to us. Since 2014, Makoveeva has been participating in the work of the Bureau of Creative Expeditions and trips to АСЕАН countries to collect materials and prepare numerous exhibitions. When visiting different places in the world, the artist certainly gets acquainted with the nature of this region, paints in zoos or menageries, and often visits nature reserves. “Working from life (plein air, working with a model) is a necessary condition for the work of both a novice artist and a professional. Drawing animals from life is not an easy, but very exciting activity,” says Irina Petrovna.

At the exhibition visitors will be able to see the artist’s original drawings, made in various techniques: pastel, colored pencils, ink, watercolor, gouache and printed graphics. Recently, I.P. Makoveeva has been successfully engaged in book illustration. In addition to illustrations for works of art, she published several of her travel albums, which were filled during creative trips: “Land of the Elephants” (2017), “The Great Journey of the Giant Pandas” (2019), “Land of the Leopard” (2021). Makoveeva’s drawings tell about the nature of vast protected areas, as well as amazing rare animals. The artist’s works have already earned high praise from professionals: I.P. Makoveeva is a laureate of the International Literary Prize named after. V.V. Bianki for 2019

I.P. Makoveeva at work at the Moscow Zoo

I.P. Makoveeva. Royal pheasant. 1979-1980 Paper, watercolor

I.P. Makoveeva. Company (dogs of different breeds). 1994. Drypoint

I.P. Makoveeva. Giant panda in the bush. 2013. Paper, colored pencils