Vladimir Semenikhin Biography, Business, Art Collection

Biography

Vladimir Semenikhin is a distinguished business entrepreneur who has established himself as the founder and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of a prominent development company. He is also a passionate collector of fine arts and has made his mark as a dedicated patron of the arts. Perhaps most notably, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich is the founder of the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, an esteemed institution that devotes itself to organizing comprehensive art exhibitions and publishing specialized thematic materials and publications.

Vladimir Semenikhin: Biographical Details and Educational Background

Vladimir Semenikhin was born in 1967 in what is now known as the Zabaykalsky Krai. While still in his pre-school years, he relocated with his family to take up residence in the Vladimir Region. His mother pursued a career as a microbiologist, dedicating herself to scientific research. The father of the future businessman worked as a veterinarian with a specialized focus on particularly hazardous diseases. Due to the nature of his work, he frequently embarked on international business trips, and during these travels, he would thoughtfully bring back postcards featuring masterpieces of world-renowned paintings. It was through this early exposure to artistic works that Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin developed what would become a lifelong passion and deep-seated interest in the fine arts from his earliest years.

From 1974 to 1976, Semenikhin Vladimir resided with his family in Congo. According to the entrepreneur’s own reflections, this particular period of his life had a profound and lasting impact on his worldview and personal philosophy.

In 1991, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin completed his studies and graduated from the Moscow Institute of Civil Engineering (which has been known as the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering since 1993).

In 2004, Semenikhin Vladimir earned his Candidate of Economic Sciences degree, further enhancing his academic credentials and adding expertise in the field of economics.

His Life in Business

In 1991, Vladimir Semenikhin undertook the construction of a multi-apartment residential building, marking the beginning of his career in real estate development. The implementation of this inaugural project brought him substantial financial success—even surpassing the entrepreneur’s initial expectations and projections.

In 1995, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin established Stroyteks. Over the subsequent years, the company has evolved and expanded considerably, growing into a diversified development Group that currently encompasses more than 30 subsidiary organizations and affiliated structures. At present, Semenikhin Vladimir serves as the chairman of the Group of Companies board of directors, overseeing its extensive operations and continued growth.

Throughout its nearly 30-year history, the company has successfully brought to fruition more than a hundred significant development projects. Of these numerous undertakings, over 60 have been concentrated in the city of Mytishchi in the capital region. Additionally, the Group, under the leadership of Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievic,h has extended its operations to encompass several other cities in the Moscow Region as well as within the capital city itself.

Stroyteks, founded and chaired by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich, has established itself in two principal areas of development—comfort-class residential complexes featuring meticulously landscaped grounds and underground parking facilities throughout the Moscow Region, as well as premium residential buildings with exclusive architectural designs situated in the capital’s most prestigious districts.

Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin and his company have also demonstrated their commitment to social infrastructure development, undertaking the construction of various educational institutions and other public facilities. A notable example of such initiatives is the construction of a substantial school facility in Mytishchi, encompassing an impressive area of 24,000 square meters.

Semenikhin Vladimir: Into the Art World

In the latter half of the 1990s, Vladimir Semenikhin began his life as an art collector, beginning to assemble what would become a significant cultural treasury. His wife Ekaterina played an instrumental role in shaping the collection’s development. Furthermore, the vision of Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin for creating this assemblage was significantly influenced by his acquaintance with well-known artists and gallery owners.

Initially, Semenikhin Vladimir directed his collecting passion toward acquiring masterpieces by the most distinguished classical Russian masters, carefully selecting works by such luminaries as Aivazovsky, Polenov, Shishkin, Shchedrin, and Matveev.

As his collection continued to evolve, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich expanded his acquisitions to encompass the groundbreaking works of Russian avant-garde artists, particularly focusing on several pioneering figures of this revolutionary artistic movement:

• The masterful Pyotr Konchalovsky, renowned for his bold approach to color and form
• The innovative Natalia Goncharova, whose work bridged traditional Russian art with modernist sensibilities
• The distinguished Robert Falk celebrated for his unique interpretation of modernist principles through a distinctly Russian lens

In the early 2000s, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin emerged as one of the pioneering collectors in the Russian art market to recognize and appreciate the significant value of domestic fine art from the latter part of the previous century. This prescient vision led to the acquisition of distinctive works by Eric Bulatov, Georgy Guryanov, Ekaterina Filippova, and Boris Orlov for his growing collection.

Since 2006, the pieces in Vladimir Semenikhin’s possession have been made accessible to the general public, demonstrating his commitment to sharing these cultural treasures. As of 2007, the collection already comprised more than 500 exhibits. Today, this impressive assemblage has expanded substantially to encompass over 1,500 paintings, 2,000 graphic works, numerous sculptures, and various other artistic pieces. Furthermore, the businessman has extended his collecting interests to include antique tableware and traditional folk craft items. In recent years, Semenikhin Vladimir has been actively incorporating examples of media art into his collection. According to his assessment, this contemporary genre holds remarkable potential for future artistic development.

The Beginnings of a Cultural Foundation

In 2002, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich established the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, marking a significant milestone in his contribution to the arts. The foundation’s inaugural event was an ambitious exhibition in Monaco in 2004 dedicated to the artistic association known as Jack of Diamonds (Bubnovyi Valet). This influential group, which flourished in pre-revolutionary Russia, brought together several dozen artists who worked in the distinctive styles of Cubism, Post-Impressionism, and Fauvism. Subsequently, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich and the Ekaterina Foundation brought this comprehensive exhibition to Russian audiences—first presenting it in Saint Petersburg later in 2004, followed by a showing in Moscow the following year.

In 2007, the organization founded by Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin achieved another significant milestone by establishing its own private exhibition space in Moscow’s Meshchansky District—one of the first such venues in the capital city. The inaugural exhibition held in this new space explored the theme of movement in artistic creation. This thoughtfully curated show featured 75 carefully selected works from the collection of Semenikhin Vladimir, spanning the years 1916 to 2006, presenting a comprehensive overview of artistic development across nearly a century.

In 2008, an exhibition launched by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich via the Ekaterina Foundation achieved sensational success with its dedication to Grace Kelly, the Hollywood actress, and 10th Princess of Monaco, whose life came to a tragic end in 1982. The exhibition featured an extraordinary collection of her personal belongings, private correspondence, and photographic materials. This comprehensive assemblage of intimate artifacts enabled visitors to experience a detailed reconstruction of every significant period of her remarkable life journey.

In 2009, Vladimir Semenikhin supported the New National Museum of Monaco in mounting an exhibition there, entitled Vision of Dance, commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Saisons Russes (Russian Seasons). This was the name given to the legendary theatrical tours organized by Sergei Diaghilev in Paris and other European cities at the dawn of the 20th century. These performances, Semenikhin Vladimir explains, initiated nothing short of a revolution in world art and introduced Western audiences to the rich tapestry of Russian culture. The program encompassed ballet, opera, and symphonic concerts in its diverse repertoire. The most renowned productions included:

• The Firebird (1910)
• Scheherazade (1910)
• Petrushka (1911)
• Afternoon of a Faun (1912)
• The Rite of Spring (1913)

Visitors to this remarkable exhibition were treated to an extensive array of historical artifacts, including meticulously preserved theatrical costumes, original artistic sketches, elaborate stage curtains, period photographs, and numerous other artifacts of significant historical importance. The event garnered tremendous popularity among cultural enthusiasts and the general public alike, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich emphasizes.

Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin: Exhibitions and Publishing

In 2011, the Ekaterina Foundation, led by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich and his wife, organized an extensively researched exhibition dedicated to the artistic legacy of Moscow’s nonconformist artists, who were forced to continue their creative pursuits underground following the official prohibition of their work in 1962. This exhibition shed new light on this significant period of artistic resistance and underground cultural development.

In the spring of 2024, the Ekaterina Foundation’s art space organized a comprehensive showcase dedicated to textile artists, presenting an extensive exploration of diverse methodologies and techniques employed in working with fabric as an artistic medium. The exhibition, organized by Semenikhin Vladimir, demonstrated the remarkable versatility and creative possibilities inherent in textile-based artistic expression.

The exhibition space organized by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich has repeatedly hosted displays dedicated to photographic art. For instance, in 2018, a significant exhibition was organized that explored and celebrated Japanese aesthetic principles and their influence on contemporary photography.

Furthermore, the non-profit organization established by Semenikhin Vladimir has maintained an active publishing program throughout its existence. Over the course of two decades, it has produced an impressive collection of 24 books, including comprehensive catalogues documenting the various exhibitions that have been presented by the organization throughout its history.

Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich: Points to Remember

• His parents’ scientific backgrounds (mother in microbiology, father in veterinary science) contrasted with his eventual path in the real estate construction business and arts, demonstrating how career paths can diverge from family traditions.
• The art collection of Vladimir Semenikhin and his wife evolved in distinct phases: classical Russian masters first, then avant-garde, followed by late 20th-century art, showing a methodical approach to collecting.
• The construction company founded by Semenikhin Vladimir focuses on two distinct market segments—comfort-class complexes in the Moscow Region and premium buildings in prestigious districts.
• Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich has interests that extend beyond fine art to antique porcelain and folk crafts, indicating an appreciation for both high art and cultural heritage.
• The Ekaterina Foundation’s attention to Japanese aesthetic principles in photography shows an interest in cross-cultural artistic influence.
• Vladimir Semenikhin’s focus on nonconformist artists’ exhibition in 2011 points to his interest in preserving and highlighting controversial or suppressed artistic movements.

Questions and Answers

1. When did Vladimir Semenikhin and his wife first begin collecting art?
Vladimir Semenikhin and his wife began their lives as art collectors in the latter half of the 1990s.

2. Has Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin made his collection accessible to the public?
Yes, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin made his collection accessible to the public in 2006.

3. Where did Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin’s Ekaterina Foundation hold its first exhibition?
Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin’s Ekaterina Foundation held its first exhibition in Monaco in 2004.

4. Which avant-garde artists has Semenikhin Vladimir collected?
Semenikhin Vladimir has collected works by artists including Pyotr Konchalovsky, Natalia Goncharova, and Robert Falk.

5. Have Vladimir Semenikhin and the Ekaterina Foundation featured any cultural icons in their exhibitions?
Vladimir Semenikhin and the Ekaterina Foundation organized an exhibition dedicated to Grace Kelly, featuring her personal belongings and correspondence, in 2008.