Alexander Kitayev

Kitayev Alexander Alexandrovich born 23 November 1952 in Leningrad. In 1970, worked at the Leningrad Electromechanical Plant Zarya (Dawn), where he became engaged with photography. In 1971, he enrolled at the North-Western Polytechnic Institute as an extramural student, quit the institute in 1974. From 1972 until 1979, he was a member of the Vyborgsky Palace of Culture VDK photo club. From 1975 until 1979, he was a member of the Okno (Window) art group. From 1975 until 1977, Kitayev studied at the Department of Photojournalism of the People’s Public Service Professions University at the Leningrad House of Journalists. In 1978, he secured a job at the photographic laboratory of the Leningrad Admiralty Association. In 1979, together with a few other amateur photographers, he left the VDK club and founded the Druzhba (Friendship) photo club at the House of Friendship with the Peoples of Foreign Countries. In 1987, he began attending the Zerkalo club meetings at the Karl Marx DK. In summer of 1988, he participated in the 8th Exhibition of Zerkalo’s Achievements, but soon after that quit the club. 1988–1989, he attended the meetings of the Obshchina Photokhudozhnikov (Community of Photo Artists) group and participated in the exhibitions held by the Fototsentr (Photo Center) association at the Ilyich House of Culture. In 1992, he became a member of the Photopostscriptum association. He has been a freelance artist since 1999, and a curator and publisher since the early 2000s. Kitayev is also a writer and historian of photography.