The Art of Cubism and Abstraction: Vladimir Titov Memorial Exhibition
As I open the door to my father's studio in my mind, I am met by the scent of oil paint and the light scratch of his brush against canvas. Light from the window falls across the unfinished painting, which glows with colour and energy, just as he left it.
The exhibition in memory of my father was held in two halls on the first floor of Narva Town Hall. It is dedicated to my father, Vladimir Titov, one of Narva’s most distinctive and respected artists. He passed away last summer in 2025, and this event is both a tribute and a celebration of everything he created.
The opening took place on 28 November. My brother Kirill and I were honoured to welcome friends, colleagues, and admirers of my father’s art. It was an emotional evening, filled with memories of his journey as both an artist and a person.
My father studied at the Serov Art College in Leningrad. After just a year and a half, he was expelled for what was then called “formalism and a love of abstraction”. What people once saw as rebellion later became the basis of his unique artistic style.
In the late 1960s, he went back to Ivangorod and held various jobs, including stoker, watchman, caretaker, and museum cleaner. Like many independent artists of that time, he balanced physical work with a strong devotion to his art. For a while, he also taught at the Ivangorod Art School. Starting in 1975, he regularly took part in regional and national exhibitions.
From 1989, my father focused completely on painting. He held solo exhibitions in Narva, Tallinn, Saint Petersburg, and London. Today, his works are part of the Narva Museum Art Gallery, the Tsarskoye Selo Collection Museum, and numerous private collections across different countries.
Although he was a solitary person by nature, he became part of a remarkable circle of artists active in Narva during the 1980s and 1990s. These artists shaped the city's cultural identity and greatly enhanced its artistic reputation.
It is hard to fit my father’s art into just one movement. He combined Cubist art, abstraction, and figurative painting to develop a style truly his own. This exhibition shows that variety. It includes works from different periods, starting in 1975, such as abstract compositions, still lifes, landscapes, and portraits. Together, they form an anthology of his artistic journey.
Seeing these works together at the Town Hall creates a powerful impression of energy and light, which has always been present in his paintings.
The exhibition only runs until 19 December 2025. I hope my brother and I will repeat this event in the future.
