Pavel 183

Pavel 183 (; 11 August 1983 – 1 April 2013 ), was a Russian street artist, known by some as the "Russian Banksy".

Art and activism Pavel Pukhov fell in love with free expression when, as an 11-year-old, he stumbled upon Moscow's infamous Tsoi Wall, an alleyway in central Moscow covered in graffiti and messages commemorating the life and cult following of rock star Viktor Tsoi.

Pavel 183's works range from murals spray-painted on public structures to combinations of audio and video, at times accompanied by a political message.

Like Banksy, Pukhov chose to keep his true identity a secret, revealing only a few biographical details on his website, including his birth and residence in Moscow and his degree in communicative design. However, he did not like the comparison, after 14 years spent forming his own style.

He attacked advertising for its power to deprive people of free will. He described designers as money makers and contrasts them with real artists, whose work he respects most.

While his works addressed political issues, he claimed not to consider himself a "political artist".

Between 2012 and 2013, he was commissioned by theatrical production company Teatralnoye Delo ["Theater Works"] to design the scenery for the rock musical Todd; the company's spokeswoman announced Pavel Pukhov's death. The cause of death was not released, and sources have given conflicting reports regarding the cause of death. The Times' Ben Hoyle wrote the Russian street art community was "in mourning."

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