Tatiana Nazarenko was born in Moscow in 1944. She studied under Zhilinsky at the Surikov Institute of Art and graduated from the Moscow Academy of the Arts in 1972. Together with Nesterova and Zhilinsky, Nazarenko formed the left wing of the Union of Artists (Levy MOSKh). Her historical paintings often initiated disputes and discussions within official critiques. Her work often treats the most dramatic and controversial events in Russian history during which the «little man» opposes the power of the state and human rights were infringed upon by the government.
Similarly to Nesterova’s paintings, Nazarenko’s art is full of folkloric images and carnivalesque motifs. The majority of her paintings are devoted to her friends, and the characters are easily recognizable. More recently Nazarenko abandoned traditional panting and turned to Object Art and installations. The openings of her exhibitions at the Manezh exhibition hall in Moscow often conclude with performances that involve the entire audience.
Nazarenko’s works are exhibited in many collections in the United States and Europe. Her most significant works belong to the Cremona Foundation in Maryland and the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, Germany. She lives and works in Moscow.
