Vladimir Shinkarev (1954–2026) was one of the key painters of his generation, as well as the ideologist and founder of the Mitki group. He was born in 1954 in Leningrad. From 1974 to 1977, he studied in courses at the Leningrad Vera Mukhina Higher School of Art and Design and at the Ilya Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. In 1977, he graduated from the Faculty of Geology at Leningrad State University. Beginning in 1975, he took part in unofficial apartment exhibitions. From 1981, he was a member of the Society for Experimental Fine Art. In 1985, he became one of the founders of the Mitki group, which he left in 2008. From 1990, he was a co-founder of the Mitkilibriss publishing house. From 1995, he was a co-founder of the Krasny Matros publishing house. From 1991, he was a member of the International Federation of Artists. From 1993, he was a member of the A–Ya (A–Z) Society of St. Petersburg, and from 1994, a member of the Russian Union of Artists. In 2007, the artist was awarded the first Art Awards "Artist of the Year – 06" prize for his achievements in the visual arts. In 2008, he received the Joseph Brodsky Award. The artist passed away on April 19, 2026.