Soviet celebrities through the lens of Valery Plotnikov (PHOTOS)

Gateway to Russia

Aug 25 2025

The photographer dreamed of preserving the faces of the heroes of his time for future generations. Each of his shots is a performance, thought out to the smallest detail.

Actor and poet Vladimir Vysotsky, 1976

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, 1974

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Actress Alla Demidova, 1981

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Pianist Svyatoslav Richter, 1977

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Composer Mikael Tariverdiev, 1983

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Poet Joseph Brodsky, 1981

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Actor and film director Oleg Yankovsky with family, 1983

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Actor Andrei Mironov, 1982

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Cellist, conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, 1996

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Actress Alisa Freundlich, 1983

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Legends of Moscow’s ‘Lenkom’ Theater: Director Mark Zakharov, actor Evgeny Leonov and playwright Grigory Gorin, 1989

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Fashion designer Slava Zaitsev and his models, 1972

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Actor Anatoly Solonitsyn, 1980

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

Actor Donatas Banionis on the set of Andrei Tarkovsky’s ‘Solaris’, 1972

Valery Plotnikov/Courtesy of Still Art Foundation

An exhibition of Valery Plotnikov's photos, titled ‘Heroes of Their Time’, is being held at the Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow until September 7, 2025 as part of the Fashion and Style in Photography 2025 Biennale.