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Andre Gualievich: 1922 - 1985Andre Gualievich was born in 1922 in a small Assyrian community around the mountains of Barwar. His family moved to Russia when Andre was only 3 years old. He completed his studies in Saint Petersburg and in 1932, graduated as an artist from the Leningrad Academy of Arts . During the same year, he became Russia's wrestling champion in his weight category, which earned him a two year scholarship to further his abilities in the sport. Andre had become the art director of a cinematography studio in Saint Petersburg at the time that he, along with many Assyrians, was forced to leave Russia and return to Iran in 1938. By then, he had established himself as an artist, and the next 47 years of work made him a leading exponent of the aesthetic world of art. He was to lead, influence, and guide many artists who came into contact with him and introduced many to the style of impressionism. The Assyrian community in Tehran, especially those who were cognizant of the value of his artistic contributions, revered him as the most prominent Assyrian figure of his discipline. Andre's work has had wide exposure in numerous exhibitions and one-man shows in St. Petersburg, Iran, Europe, and the United States, where he had a joint exhibit with his once apprentice, Jan Toma in Saratoga, California in 1976. In 1945, his painting entitled "The Assyrian Exodus" was awarded a medal as the best painting of its kind, and another work entitled "We Shall Join Again " was awarded the first prize in an international art show in Budapest , Hungary, where he was also decorated as the leading artist in that competition. Today, Andre's paintings are the prized possessions of many Assyrians and non-Assyrians alike and are a shrine to the honor and memory of his greatness. Andre died in July of 1985 in Tehran. Copy Rights Laws apply to this articleUpdated August 23, 1998 Return to Assyrian Painting Page.
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