Russian artist Vadik Suljakov (pronounced Shul-ya-kov) has established himself as one of the most distinguished young impressionists in the country. Vadik Suljakov, born in the cultural center of Moscow in 1960, comes from an intellectual family with many generations of artists and writers. His parents gave him an excellent home education, which included painting by the age of seven. He continued with Russia's most rigid and traditional art education and from the age of twelve to twenty, he perfected his style. Suljakov studied at the Moscow First Art School and served apprenticeships at the Moscow Graphic Art Committee and the Moscow Art Group. In 1990, Suljakov left Russia for the United States like many other artists had done, because they were asked to tie their art to politics. He then spent a year in New York City with a group of other artists from his native Russia, working as a commercial artist.