Biography provided courtesy of “California Watercolors 1850-1970” By Gordon T. McClelland and Jay T. Last.

Sergei Bongart, A.N.A. (1918-1985)...Born: Kiev, Russia

Studied: Kiev Art Academy

Member: National Academy of Design (Associate), American Watercolor Society.

Sergei Bongart spent his childhood in a small village in the Ukraine. He studied art in Kiev with Michael Yarovoy and Peter Kotov. Both were well-known Russian artists. After leaving Russia, he lived in various places in Europe and in the 1940s, moved to the United States, settling in Santa Monica.

His style of painting with both watercolors and oils received immediate recognition and his works were regularly exhibited in galleries and museums in America and Europe. He wrote art books, articles for art publications and poetry. In addition, he taught art in California and Idaho.

Biographical information:

Interview with Sergei Bongart, 1984.