Background
Khvostenko-Khvostov was born in Borisovka, Russian Federation (former territory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), on April 4, 1895. He was the son of an icon painter.
Moscow, Russian Federation
Moscow Architectural Institute
Khvostenko-Khvostov was born in Borisovka, Russian Federation (former territory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), on April 4, 1895. He was the son of an icon painter.
Alexander Khvostenko-Khvostov attended the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (MUZHZV) between 1907 and 1917. During 1918-1919 the artist studied in the studio of Aleksandra Ekster in Kiev, Ukraine.
Khvostenko-Khvostov designed posters and created advertising boards during 1920-1921. Starting from 1920 he made numerous designs for ballets and operas in Kharkiv and Kiev, mainly in the Constructivist style. For example, in 1921 he created sketches of costumes and scenery for the Mayakovsky's play "Mystery-Bouffe" staged in Kharkiv. The same year he exhibited his works for the first time. Between 1921 and 1947 he taught with breaks at the Kharkiv State School of Art.
In 1926 Alexander Khvostenko-Khvostov cooperated in the production of Prokofiev's Love for the three Oranges in Kharkiv. It was one of his most experimental projects, but it was never performed. In 1927 the painter took part in the All-Ukrainian Exhibition Ten Years October together with Alexander Bogomazov, Vadym Meller, Victor Palmov, Anatol Petrytsky. That year Khvostenko-Khvostov's works were shown at the exhibition "The Artist today".
From 1919-1921 he participated in the creation of campaign posters for Agitprop. Along with Yermilov he window-displayed for the Ukraine Telegraph Agency, worked as a set-designer on Glière’s Red Poppy in 1929 and became artistic director of the new Kharkov Theatre of Opera & Ballet.
Concurrently he served as a principal consultant for masking objects in the Kharkov military district. He was named artistic director of the Kiev Opera in 1946. In his later years Alexander Khvostenko-Khvostov started to create illustrations for books.
Costume Design. Ortruda
Costume Design
Costume Design. Loengrin
Costume Design
Costume Design
Decoration for the Ballet 'Romeo and Juliet' by S. Prokofiev
Costume of Elsa to the Opera 'Lohengrin' by Wagner
Costume Design. Carmen, Mercedes, Frasquita
Costume Design. Carmen
Costume Design. Fridrich Telramund
Sketch of Scenery for the Opera 'Valkyrie'
Sketch of Scenery for the Opera 'Love for Three Oranges'
Costume Design
Costume Design. Heinrich the Birdcatcher
Sketch of Scenery for the Opera 'Valkyrie'
Set Decoration for Opera 'Sold Bride' by Smetana
Sketch of the Magician's Costume for the Opera 'Love for Three Oranges'
Costume Design. Heinrich the Birdcatcher with a Sword
Costume design for a cook
Costume design for a musketeer
The Dancer
Study for Diaghilev's Russian Ballet seasons
Glacier Hotel. Sketch for “Johnny Plays on" opera by Ernst Krenek
A sketch of scenery for the Mystery Buff. Mayakovsky
In 1917 Alexander Khvostenko-Khvostov joined the Moscow Professional Union of Artists in Moscow together with Kazimir Malevich, Aleksandra Ekster, Vadym Meller and Vladimir Tatlin.