Vladimir Jbanov Belarusian sculptor. Date of Birth: 26.01.1954 Country: Belarus

Biography of Vladimir Zhbanov

Vladimir Zhbanov was a Belarusian sculptor, born on January 26, 1954, in the city of Minsk, in a military family. From childhood, he developed a passion for sculpting. In 1973, he graduated from the Minsk Art School named after Glebov. Later, in 1979, he completed his studies at the Belarusian State Theater and Art Institute, specializing in sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Serving in Afghanistan, Zhbanov gained valuable life experience during his military service. After leaving the army, he spent three years studying at the creative workshops of the USSR Academy of Arts in 1983. His dedication and talent led him to become a highly respected teacher at the Glebov Minsk Art School from 1985 to 1999.

Throughout his career, Zhbanov was an active member of the Belarusian Union of Artists, joining in 1993. He was recognized for his artistic achievements, receiving the first prize and medal at the 2001 "High Technologies" exhibition in St. Petersburg. In 2004, he was awarded the medal of the Belarusian Union of Artists, and in 2005, he received an honorary diploma from the Minsk City Council of People's Deputies.

Zhbanov was a family man, married to a designer, and had a son and two daughters. Following his passion for art, his children also dedicated themselves to the world of creativity. In the late 1980s, he focused on creating monuments for internationalist soldiers, which were installed throughout the republic. From 1997 to 1998, he exclusively worked on park and street sculptures, becoming a recognized master whose works adorn the central areas of the Belarusian capital.

Among his notable sculptures are "The Girl on the Bench" ("Minchanka") in Mikhailovsky Square, "The Smoker" (a monument to an ambitious film producer, funded by Zhbanov himself), and "The Girl with an Umbrella," which appeared after the tragedy in the underground passage of the Minsk metro, where 53 people, mostly young girls, died due to a rain-induced crowd crush.

Zhbanov's sculptures can also be found in other cities in Belarus and abroad, including Bobruisk, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Gomel, Svetlogorsk, the Moscow region, Düsseldorf, and Pavlograd in Ukraine.