Vladimir Naïditch (Russian, 1903−1980)

Vladimir Naïditch was born in Moscow in 1903. He came from a wealthy family of vodka distillers and remained in the family business throughout his life, leading a double life of artist and businessman. He started his artistic education at the School of Applied Arts in Moscow, his talent was quickly recognised and he exhibited for the first time at the age of fourteen. He continued his education once his family moved to Paris around 1920, at the Grande Chaumière and Colarossi academies.

In Paris he befriended many of the artists of Montparnasse, Jean Pougny, Mikhail Larionov, Ossip Lubitch, Pinchus Kremegne, Kisling, Chagall, Van Dongen, Matisse, Picasso, Soutine. He established a strong friendship with artist Lazare Volovick, with whom he later shared a studio. Naïditch showed regularly at the Salon d'Automne, Salon des Artistes Indépendants, and Salon des Tuileries between 1930 and 1938. 

During the war, Vladimir Naïditch fled to the United States via Cuba. His exhibitions in New York and Rhode Island were a big success. After his return to Paris, he showed at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Indépendants again from 1961 to 1976. In 1985 he featured in From the Bible to Today. Hommage to Jewish Painters at the School of Paris, Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. The Salon de la Rose-Croix organised two solo exhibitions (1983 and 1987) and the Galerie Drouart in Paris promoted his work after his death and prepared a catalogue raisonné. His studio collection, almost intact since he had little interest in selling his work, was put up for sale in 1989.

Today his works can be found at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art in Moscow, The State Russian Museum in St Petersburg and many private collections.