Vladimir Tretchikoff, whose full name was Vladimir Grigoryevich Tretchikov, was a well-known self-taught painter from Russia who lived in Cape Town, South Africa. He was born on December 26, Russia, and passed away on August 26, 2006. He was referred to as “the king of kitsch.” Self-taught, Tretchikoff created realistic portraits, still lifes, animals, and figures. His subjects were frequently influenced by his early experiences in China, Singapore, and Indonesia as well as his later years in South Africa.