Yevgeny Ukhnalyov

Evgeny Ilyich Ukhnalev (; 4 September 1931 – 3 September 2015) was a Russian contemporary artist and the honorary Russian state artist. He was a founding member of the Russian Guild of Heraldic Artists and the creator of many state symbols of modern Russia including its coat of arms. In 1997 he was awarded the People's Artist of Russia title.

Biography Ukhnalev was born in Leningrad (Saint Petersburg). He graduated from the visual arts school at Repin Institute of Arts in Leningrad and entered a Ship-Building Community College (судостроительный техникум). In 1948 Ukhnalev was accused of planning to dig an underground tunnel from Leningrad to Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow to perform a terrorist act. Ukhnalev was sentenced to 25 years subject to article 58, he was kept in the Kresty, then in the Vorkutlag. He was sent to Vorkuta labor camps where he worked in coal mines. After 6 years, he was released because "when committing the crime" he wasn't 18 years old. Later he worked as a designer in a sharashka in Kresty Prison in Leningrad.

On 22 June 1954, a year after the death of Joseph Stalin, Ukhnalev was freed. He worked in a few design institutes, as well as did some book illustrations. In 1967 he found a job at the Hermitage Museum and soon became the chief architect of the museum. He worked there until 1975. According to Solvki Encyclopedia Ukhnalev and the architect of the memorial, State Duma deputy Yuly Rybakov, paid all the expenses personally including the transportation of the 10,400 kg boulder from the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea. The Saint Petersburg city administration would not help financing the memorial despite significant budget allocated to celebrate the tercentenary of the city.

Evgeny Ukhnalev died in his home in Saint Petersburg on 3 September 2015, the day before his 84th birthday. He continued to work as a Hermitage Museum staff member until his death.

Heraldic works and state awards

Honours and awards Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Jubilee Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg" People's Artist of the Russian Federation