Galina Smirnova  Galina Alexandrovna Smirnova (; February 17, 1929, Soligalich, Kostroma Oblast, Russian SFSR) is a Soviet Russian painter, living and working in Saint Petersburg, a member of the Saint Petersburg Union of Artists (before 1992 known as the Leningrad branch of Union of Artists of Russian Federation), regarded as one of representatives of the Leningrad school of painting, most famous for her portraits of contemporaries. Galina Alexandrovna Smirnova was born on February 17, 1929 in the town Soligalich, Kostroma Oblast of the Russian SFSR. In the years 1944–1948 Galina Smirnova studied in Kostroma Art College. In 1949 Galina Smirnova entered at the first course of Department of Painting at the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin, where she studied under Ivan Stepashkin, Vladislav Anisovich, and Mikhail Avilov. In 1955 Galina Smirnova graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin in Yuri Neprintsev workshop together with Piotr Litvinsky, Evgeny Maltsev, Victor Reykhet, Yuri Belov, and other young artists. Since 1955 Galina Smirnova has participated in Art Exhibitions. She paints portraits, genre scenes, landscapes, and still lifes. In a creative sense, the most interesting are her portraits of contemporaries, as well as nature studies and genre paintings. Galina Alexandrovna Smirnova is a member of the Saint Petersburg Union of Artists (before 1992 was known as the Leningrad branch of Union of Artists of Russian Federation) since 1960. Paintings by Galina Alexandrovna Smirnova reside in Art museums and private collections in the Russia, France, Germany, and others.