Aleksei Belykh was born in the Village of Krutets, Orel Province, Russia June 3, 1923. He moved to Moscow to enter the military academy and, following his graduation from the Kostroma Art College in 1947, he began working as a textile designer and an amateur painter in Moscow. In 1952, the talented young artist took part in the All Union Exhibition of Amateur Artists and won high critical praise and recognition within the art community. That same year he gained acceptance into the prestigious Surikov Art Institute of the University of Moscow. After six years of study, Belykh graduated from the Academy and accepted an art teaching position at the Kostroma Art College, later becoming a full professor. He left the Art College in 1964 and took a position with the Kostroma Teacher Training Institute, a position he held until his retirement in the late 1980’s. Belykh was a member of the Union of Soviet Russia Artists and participated in many State-sponsored exhibitions throughout his illustrious career. He was also a highly respected graphic artist. In 1965, he was awarded the coveted title, Honored Artist of Russia. His monumental piece, Young Timber Men, is featured on page 30 of Matthew Bown’s, A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Painters, 1900 – 1980’s. Many of Belykh’s works are in the permanent collections of major Russian museums. He is married to the prominent artist, Nadezhda A. Belykh.