OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2012. At the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts Alexander Baklanov, Head Artist of the Design Center of Goznak, People’s Artist of Russia received the certificate of a full-fledged member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Arts.

According to Zurab Tsereteli, Alexander Baklanov’s election as a full-fledged member of the Russian Academy of Arts is an important event for the whole Academy, native art and artistic education.

Alexander Baklanov is a member of the Commonwealth of Artists and the Commonwealth of Designers of Russia, a professor of the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.E. Repin of the Academy of arts in Saint-Petersburg and of the Saint-Petersburg State Pedagogical University named after A.I. Gertsen. Since 2008 Alexander Baklanov has been a correspondent member of the Design Department of the Russian Academy of Arts.

Alexander Baklanov has worked at Goznak since 1979. He has been the Head Artist of the Saint-Petersburg Mint since 1987, and the Head Artist of the Design Center of Goznak since 2007.

There are over 600 mealier works among the creative assets of Alexander Baklanov. Including the design of commemorative coins of the Bank of Russia dedicated to the XXII Olympic Games of 2014 in Sochi. His work upon the project was highly appraised by the Russian and foreign specialists and experts.

The medalier works created by Baklanov brought him world-wide fame. The coins minted according to his projects at the Saint-Petersburg Mint were named the best at the international numismatic saloons and competitions more than once.

Baklanov is the author of design of the star and badges of the “Order of Merit for the Motherland”, medals of A.V. Suvorov, A.S. Pushkin, “300th Anniversary of the Russian Fleet”, “50th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War”, a series of commemorative medals dedicated to the 2000th Anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, “Order of Naval Merit”. The artist took part in recreation of the Russian awards of St. Andrew and St. George’s Cross. In Germany, Italy, Norway, Finland medals were minted according to Baklanov’s authors projects.

He successfully combines the work upon coins and orders and scientific research. He prepared articles about the properties of materials applied in the coin and order production and their behavior in the technological impact process.

Alexander Baklanov developed educational programs for students of the Sculpture Faculty of Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.E. Repin where he holds a course of the medalier art. As a result of his efforts and insistence the professional training of medalier artists has been revived in Russia; its traditions were started already at the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Alexander Baklanov has united a team of young artists and medaliers, sculptors, engravers many of whom came to work at the Mints of Goznak with his recommendation and support.

The works of A. Baklanov and his pupils are stored in many museums and are often exhibited at numismatic exhibitions in Russia and abroad.

Being one of the brightest representatives of the Russian medalier school, Alexander Vasilievich Baklanov continues and develops its best traditions.