Alexander Salaueu (September 13, 1926 – May 23, 2021) remains a fascinating enigma in the art world. Few works have survived from his extensive artistic repertoire, estimated at around 1,500 oils and 3,500 watercolors. The majority of his work, especially his lyrical abstract pieces, dates from the later period of his career. The latest works are exclusively held by prestigious museums and discerning collectors, underscoring their extraordinarily rare nature.
Born in Soloni, in the Novgorodsky region, Salaueu’s youth was marked by commitment. At the age of 17, he actively participated in the resistance movement and was decorated with the Red Star order, also receiving commemorative medals as a great wartime patriot in 1945. He remained stationed in Tallinn from 1945 to 1949, with no precursory signs of his future artistic career.
The pivotal encounter with Ado Vabbe was decisive. Vabbe introduced him to art, particularly avant-garde abstraction. In 1955, Salaueu successfully pursued courses at the Academy of Art in Saint Petersburg and later at the Institute of Art Theater in Belarus, further deepening his artistic expertise. In 1965, he became the set designer and producer of the Academic Dramatic Theater in Vitebsk, succeeding Mark Chagall and becoming a renowned painter in his own right.
Alexander Salaueu occupies a unique place in the artistic landscape of the second half of the 20th century. His intense creations, artistic expertise, and influential circle, which included artists like Pablo Picasso, earned him nearly automatic recognition as one of the greatest contemporary artists. His works are sought after worldwide, primarily held in the United States, Germany, Italy, France, New Brunswick, USA, the Tretyakov Museum, Vitebsk National Museum, Minsk National Museum, and the Minnesota Museum, among others.
It is worth noting that his lyrical abstract works are exceptionally rare, with most being nearly impossible to find. Alexander Salaueu never actively sought recognition because it came to him naturally. Throughout his life, he continued the artistic legacy initiated by pioneers like Malevitch, Chagall, and Kroushkin, thus perpetuating the tradition of the second school of Paris.”
Museums:
- Belarusian National Arts Museum (Minsk, Belarus)
- Marc Chagall Museum (Vitebsk, Belarus)
- Pushkin Museum (Moscow)
- Tretyakov Gallery (Russia)
- New Brunswick Museum(USA)
- Museum of Modern Art (Frankfurt)
- The funds of the Belarusian Union of Artists
Exhibitions:
1963 – republican exhibition dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the BSSR, Minsk
1967 – republican exhibition of the works of scene-designers, art directors and TV designers, Minsk.
1981 – republican art exhibition « The USSR – is Our Homeland » dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the USSR foundation.
1987 – republican exhibition of the works of scene-designers, art directors and TV designers, Minsk.
2009 – republican art exhibition «ABSTRACT-2009» dedicated to the anniversary of Vitebsk Art School, Minsk.
2010 – republican art exhibition «ABSTRACT-2009» dedicated to the anniversary of Vitebsk Art School, Minsk.
1967 – regional art exhibition «Vitebsk the Heroic and the Labour», Vitebsk regional museum;
1967 – regional art exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of October Revolution, Vitebsk.
1968 – regional art exhibition «Vitebsk the Heroic and the Labour», Vitebsk;
1968 – anniversary regional art exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the BSSR and KPB, Vitebsk.
1974 – regional art exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of liberation of Belarus and Vitebsk from fascist aggressors, Vitebsk.
1987 – regional art exhibition dedicated to the 70th anniversary of October Revolution, Vitebsk.
1974 – retrospective exhibition of the works by belorussian artists of 1944–1974, Minsk.
1976 – anniversary personal exhibition, Vitebsk.
1980 – exhibition of the artists А. Salaueu, L. Antimonov, А. Orlov, Vitebsk.
1982 – exhibition of the artists from Vitebsk region, Smolensk.
1986 – exhibition of the artists А. Salaueu, L. Antimonov, Polotsk;
1986 – personal art exhibition, Vitebsk regional museum.
1989 – exhibition of Vitebsk artists dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the BSSR and KPB, Vitebsk;
1989 – exhibition of scene-designers following the results of the theatre season of 1987–1988, Minsk.
1993 – exhibition of the artists А. Salaueu and P. Kirilin, Vitebsk.
1997 – exhibition of the artists А. Salaueu and V. Chukin, Vitebsk.
2000 – personal art exhibition, Vitebsk.
2000 – personal animalistic exhibition, Vitebsk (Art Museum).
2001 – anniversary personal exhibition (Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre), Vitebsk;
2001 – anniversary personal exhibition Vitebsk regional museum;
2001 – anniversary personal exhibition (exhibition hall of the UA), Vitebsk;
2001 – personal art exhibition, Polotsk.
2004 – art exhibition «There was a War» dedicated to the 60th anniversary of liberation of Belarus and Vitebsk from fascist aggressors, Vitebsk.
2005 – personal art exhibition Vitebsk Museum of Modern Art;
2005 – personal art exhibition (Regional Library name after V. Lenin), Vitebsk.
2006 – anniversary personal exhibition, Vitebsk Museum of Modern Art.
2009 – personal art exhibition, Vitebsk Museum of Modern Art
2010 – personal art exhibition «One-man Theater», Vitebsk.
2011 – personal art exhibition к 85th anniversary of A. Salaueu’s birth (Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre, Regional Museum of Local History), Vitebsk;
2011 – personal art exhibition « Revelation», Vitebsk;
2011 – art exhibition «What does Motherland Start with», Vitebsk;
2011 – exhibition dedicated to the 40th anniversary Vitebsk organization of artists, Minsk.
2012 – personal art exhibition «Element of Colour» (Regional Library name after V. Lenin), Vitebsk;
2012– exhibition of works «Fine Gift, Invaluable Gift», granted to Vitebsk Museum of Modern Art, Vitebsk.
2013 – personal art exhibition «Theatre of Alexander Salaueu» (Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre, Regional Museum of Local History), Vitebsk.
2015 – personal art exhibition «Our Eternal Nature: colour, rhythm, space» (Art Museum), Vitebsk.
2016 – personal anniversary art exhibition «The Movement of My Dream», dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the artist (exhibition hall of CE «Museum “Vitebsk Centre of Modern Art”»), Vitebsk;
2016 – personal anniversary art exhibition «Reality With No Similarity» to the 90th anniversary of Honoured Art Worker of Belarus Alexander Salaueu Belarusian National Arts Museum, Minsk.
2017 – exhibition of the thematic works by Vitebsk artists – veterans of the Great Patriotic War «War In the Works of Its Soldiers» Vitebsk Museum of Modern Art, May, 8 – June, 4), Vitebsk.
