Andre Nikolaevich Kouznetsov – BIO

Kouznetsov, born in Vishney Volochok Russia, May 18, 1959  – to Nikolai Kouznetsov and Angelina Serov, was an artist from his youth.  In the Soviet Union talented youngsters were selected for specialized schooling, which for Kouznetsov extended from prep school to University.  Having completed a college program in theater arts, Kouznetsov successfully auditioned for the world renowned St. Petersburg Academy of Art where he studied every high art form for a period of 2 years.

 After his schooling, Kouznetsov’s career in art kicked off during mandatory service in the Soviet Army.  Artistic talent was as ‘fortune’ following the conscript, for instead of serving in a frozen Siberian, he was stationed in the city of art, St. Petersburg , where Kouznetsov’s Army assignment was painting military illustrations and murals. 

 Following military service, Kouznetsov migrated to the Soviet republic of Latvia where he married and started a family.  As other Russian youth,, Kouznetsov spent some of his time listening to American music, watching American movies and musing about America.  It was the breakup of the Soviet Union though that finally precipitated his journey to the United States.   When the wall came down in Germany, the Baltic States joined the rush of republics declaring their freedom from the USSR.  In Latvia, the antagonism of the Latvian people toward their former occupants was especially fierce.  Russians were dismissed from jobs, Russian newspapers were closed and people of Russian descent from that point on - compelled to leave.  Unemployed from 2001 Kouznetsov made a living by traveling back & forth to Poland where he sold paintings on the streets.  From 1991 to 1993 Andre and his family lived in poverty. Their flat was often unheated in winter, their diet became reduced to flour and water pancakes.  The strain of these difficult years eventually ended his marriage and Kouznetsov was on his own again.

 In 1993 fortune stepped into his life in the form of an elderly Polish woman who had purchased several of his paintings.  She suggested to Andre that he could do better for his family selling his paintings in the United States and arranged for his travel.  In July of 1993, Andre arrived at New York’s Kennedy Airport.  The Polish woman’s inclination proved prophetic.  By his second day in New York Andre was living in Brooklyn and working full time in a company of Polish painters. He was not yet painting murals, but he was working and learning, and his paintings were already gaining him some rapt attention.

Like so many immigrants Andre always thought he would return home.  But where was that?  Latvia wouldn’t have him, Russia was no longer the Soviet Union of his youth and at least in America he was earning enough money to support his family.  Andre stayed.  In April of 1995 Andre married an American artist and in August of 2000 became an American citizen.   Andre knows that he is blessed to be an American and that his struggles have paid off. His children in Latvia are well fed.  [The oldest has begun University in Riga and his middle son is a gifted musician].   Andre’s paintings and murals hang in private and public places extending from G’dansk to New York, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.  Kouznetsov’s painting shows in the last few years have been complete sell outs.  And finally Nikolai, Andre youngest son, born in 1999 in Arlington VA., so far  doesn’t show much interest in art, but loves to sing.  His favorite song??..  !God Bless America! 

Some of Kouznetsov’s public murals may be seen in  Washington DC at Café Milano,  Le Lavandou and BET Restaurant and outdoors at 712 Capitol St. NE.   A gallery of his paintings and murals may be seen on-line at www.bfresco.com on the gallery or Trompe L’ Oeil and mural pages.

• HGTV September 2004 Dream Builders Segment shown June 19^th, 2006.     Work shown included 2 murals Decorative Paint and Italian Plaster work in custom home, Mclean VA.

 FILM

• Dreamworks film, ‘Head of State’. Meeting with Dreamworks committee to show designs for the Mural ‘View to The Dordogne’ for the 2002 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra – Decorator Show House Grand Stairwell, led to their selection of the house for the filming of the Christ Rock Movie.

Andre Nikolaevich Kouzentsov

  6442 Overlook Drive, Alexandria VA 22312
Tel.  (703) 914.5606    Fax.  (703) 942.6666 

Toll Free:  1.888. 637.3726

email: artistry@bfresco.com