Nikolay (Nikas) Stepanovich Safronov (Russian: Николай (Ни́кас) Степа́нович Сафро́нов; born April 8, 1956, Ulyanovsk) is the most prominent modern artist in Russia, titled as the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation. Furthermore, Nikas is an Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Art of the Ulyanovsk State University, Professor of the Department of Drawing and Painting of the Kosygin Russian State University (Art, Design, Technology), Laureate of the “International Pushkin Prize” in the “Art. Painting” nomination (2024), and the winner of the national ‘Dean of the Year’ award (2024) . Today, Nikas Safronov is one of the most famous and sought-after artists in Russia, as well as one of the most prominent phenomena of modern culture, and an artist of global significance. His works reflect the evolution of global art - from Gothic Hermeticism to Pop Art and Avant-garde. His name is closely associated with symbolism and surrealism, further developing into his own artistic style which he titled Dream Vision. Over the past ten years, Nikas held over 320 exhibitions in Russia and abroad. According to public surveys, Nikas Safronov’s exhibitions are visited by over a million people annually, including heads of state, political figures and leading cultural figures internationally. Recently, Nikas became an honorary guest of Pope Francis in the Vatican, in February 2025. Nikas is also the author of Donald Trump’s portrait, gifted by Russian president Vladimir Putin in April 2025 through Special Representative Steve Witkoff. Nikas is currently set to present exhibitions in Mumbai and New Delhi, as an act of strengthening diplomatic relations between Russia and India. This exhibition will become the first out of a series of international exhibitions planned by the artist. (Via Wikipedia)