Igor Zaytsev was born in June of 1958 in the Ukraine. He grew up in a family of artists, and with love and encouragement of his parents Igor’s talent flourished early. At the age of 15 Igor was among of the very few chosen to enter the College of Art in Lugansk, Ukraine, which he attended from 1973 to 1977. After graduation Zaytsev was one of only nine students who were selected through a yearly competition of over 100 to gain entry to the prestigious National Academy of Art in Kiev, where he studied from 1977 to 1983, painting and sketching day and night.

Igor’s works were exhibited at national art shows while he was still at the Academy. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture purchased number of Igor’s paintings for national museums. His works became a part of Ukrainian national treasure. Upon graduating from the Academy Igor served required time in the Soviet Army, and shortly after his discharge Perestroika began. Artists finally were able to enjoy a freedom they had never knew during the Soviet period. The freedom to work in any style and direction they chose. Igor also experimented in the direction of abstract and Surrealism, but keep loyalty to figurative realism and works of the masters of Renaissance, such as Leonardo De Vinci and Caravaggio.

Once the Iron Curtain was lifted Igor Zaytsev began participating in international shows worldwide.

Solo Shows
• 2008 ArtExpo, New York, USA
• 2007 ArtExpo, Las Vegas, USA
• 2004 Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, Michigan, USA
• 1997 U.S. Agency of International Development, Kiev, Ukraine
• 1996 Peace Corps. USA, Kiev, Ukraine
• 1993 U.S. Consulate, Kiev, Ukraine

Selected Exhibitions
• 1996 UNO, Geneva, Switzerland, representation of well-known Ukrainian artists
• 1996 UN General Assembly, New York City, Devoted 10th Anniversary of Chernobyl Catastrophe, Group Show
• 1995 Lincoln Center/Walter Reade Theater, New York City, Group Show of Ukrainian Artists
• 1994-1996 Annual International Art Fair, Kiev, Ukraine
• 1989 International Biennale,”Impeza—89”, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
• 1989 USSR National Exhibit of Young Artists of the Soviet Union, “Our Contemporaries”, Moscow