Romuald Iodko

Romuald Romualdovich Iodko (; 3 December 1894 – 13 November 1974) was a Soviet sculptor, known for his works in outdoor sculpture in the style of socialist realism, such as Girl with an Oar and Children's Khorovod fountain; Meritorious Sculptor of the RSFSR.

Biography Romuald Iodko was born on 3 December 1894 in Slutsk, Minsk Governorate of the Russian Empire, in the family of an artisan. He had a sister, Yelena, and two brothers, Vitold and Adam (1893–1938), the latter was wrongfully executed, but subsequently rehabilitated. In 1919, he volunteered in the Red Army during the Russian Civil War, serving until 1921, then he was sent to Vkhutemas to continue his artistic education. he remained there as an assistant on scientific-methodological and pedagogical work.

He mainly dealt with monumental decorative sculpture for parks, embankments, stadiums, public buildings in Moscow and other cities, including Female Swimmer or Leap into the Water (1930), Children's Khorovod (1930) for the fountain, Victory (1935), Female Builder (1937), Girl with an Oar (1936–1937), Miner (1939), and Female Miner (1939). He also created sculptural portraits of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1940), Ageeva (1949), M.F. Stakhanov, and others; indoor sculptures, like Portrait of a Man (1925) and Red Guard (1927).

At the beginning of his academic career, he lectured at the Sculpture Department of Vkhutemas-Vkhutein (1924–30), MAI (1930–41), MKhI (1937–47), and MIPIDI (1949–52); holding a professor title since 1941. In 1952, he started to work at MVKhPU, where he managed the Department of Academic Sculpture from 1963 to 1974. For his achievements, he was awarded the title of Meritorious Worker of Arts of the RSFSR in 1968. Among his pupils were Lev Kerbel, Vladimir Tsigal, and S.D. Shaposhnikov.

He died on 13 November 1974 in Moscow, and was buried at the Vvedenskoye Cemetery.

Selected work Sportswoman (Fizkulturnitsa), 1924 Portrait of a Man (Muzhskoy portret), 1925 Red Guardsman (Krasnogvardeyets), 1927 Boy, 1927 Female Swimmer (Plovchikha) or Jumping into the Water, tinted cement, 1930; also a bronze version of 1932. Children's Khorovod, 1930 Victory, 1935 Girl with an Oar, 1936 and 1937 Female Builder (Stroitelnitsa), 1937 Miner (Gornyak), 1939 Female Miner (Gornyachka), 1939 Kolkhoznik, 1950