At the age of 76, we mourn the sudden loss of the talented Odessa artist Sergey Mikhailovich Ilyin, a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine and an art scholar who worked at the Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern Art.

Sergey Ilyin was born on April 30, 1949. He completed his education at the Odessa Art School and the Fine Arts Faculty of the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushinsky. He dedicated many years of his life to the museum, where he excelled as a professional.

Sergey Mikhailovich was deeply committed to his work, and his genuine love for culture and art significantly contributed to the museum's development. His expertise in art and literary studies allowed him to successfully manage exhibitions, as he had a profound understanding of each artist's essence, enabling him to present their works in the best light.

Since 1996, Sergey Ilyin also conducted a film lecture series at the museum while continuing to paint. He participated in numerous international exhibitions held in Paris, Brussels, and other cities, and organized solo exhibitions in Potsdam, Kyiv, and his hometown of Odessa.

Among his professional community and friends, Sergey Ilyin was regarded as a talented, kind, and honorable person, a true intellectual.

The Odessa City Council expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of this distinguished painter.