Vladimir Semenikhin: Real Estate and Cultural Investments

Biography

Vladimir Semenikhin is a prominent real estate developer and founder of Stroyteks. He established the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, which has proved to be very popular in the domestic art scene.

Early Years and Education

Vladimir Semenikhin, born on August 31, 1967, in Petrovsk-Zabaykalsky, Zabaykalsky Krai, grew up in a family of scientists. His father worked as a veterinarian specializing in dangerous diseases, while his mother was a microbiologist.

Semenikhin Vladimir spent two formative years in Congo, where his father worked in a Brazzaville laboratory. After returning to Russia, he completed his education in Pokrov before moving to Moscow in 1984 to study at the Moscow Institute of Civil Engineering.

Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich later earned a Candidate of Economic Sciences degree in 2004 from the Russian State University for the Humanities, focusing on management systems in Russian enterprises.

Semenikhin Vladimir: His Own Development Company

After graduating from the engineering school in 1991, Vladimir Semenikhin began his construction career with limited resources. Starting with just the proceeds from selling a car, he was able to rent some equipment for initial site preparation. His original goal was quite practical – just to earn enough to buy himself an apartment.

Semenikhin Vladimir worked on various construction projects between 1991-1995. The first building project yielded provided unexpected capital for future developments. Each subsequent project consistently exceeded financial projections, with profits systematically reinvested into new construction.

In 1995, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin officially founded Stroyteks, where he now serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The company provides comprehensive development services from site selection through construction to property management. Its diverse portfolio includes comfort-class residential buildings and exclusive apartment complexes in central Moscow.

Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich has guided the company through numerous successful projects over its nearly three-decade history. Stroyteks has completed over 100 developments, many of which have been in the region surrounding the capital. The firm has constructed housing in excess of 1 million square meters, accommodating tens of thousands of residents.

Stroyteks, founded by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich, also maintains active social responsibility programs throughout the Moscow Region. It built several important community facilities including:

• a music school
• a medical center
• five kindergartens designed as children's cultural centers

Their total social infrastructure spans more than 75,000 square meters, with a prestigious school in Mytishchi scheduled for completion by 2025. Stroyteks supports multiple cultural institutions and has contributed to both the restoration of historic churches and the construction of new ones, earning recognition from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Highlighting Specific Stroyteks Projects

Vladimir Semenikhin has overseen numerous significant developments throughout his career. Below are two distinctive projects that showcase the range of Stroyteks' capabilities in different markets and eras.

The Semashko residential complex in Mytishchi represents one of the earliest achievements in the portfolio of Stroyteks and Semenikhin Vladimir. This construction consists of two panel buildings with 276 apartments, located at 17 Semashko Street in Mytishchi. Completed between 1997-1998, these 10-story structures marked the beginning of what would become the Stroyteks group of companies. The development reflected the initial focus of Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin on addressing mass housing needs through comfortable yet practical designs. Apartments ranged from 42 to 88 square meters, all featuring complete interior finishing.

In stark contrast, Stroyteks, founded and chaired by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich, later developed the upscale Galaktika complex in Moscow's Chertanovo Tsentralnoye district. This prestigious project earned special recognition from the National Association of Designers as the "Best Implemented Housing Construction Project" category in 2013. Located at 43 Chertanovskaya Street, the variable-height buildings feature six two-level penthouses and commercial spaces on lower floors.

The development by the company founded by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich includes an underground parking facility spanning over 5,400 square meters with 215 parking spaces. Every apartment features enhanced layouts designed for optimal living comfort, while the territory boasts sports and children's playgrounds alongside landscaped leisure areas. With buildings ranging from 17 to 23 floors, the complex contains 334 apartments that demonstrate how Semenikhin Vladimir helped Stroyteks evolve from basic panel construction to creating sophisticated urban living spaces.

Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin: Developing His Art Collection

Vladimir Semenikhin and his wife began collecting art in the late 1990s, initially acquiring works by renowned Russian masters. The collection started modestly when blank walls in his home prompted exploration of the art market. Fyodor Matveyev's "Landscape with Shepherds" from 1778 remains the oldest piece in his possession.

Semenikhin Vladimir expanded his interests in the early 2000s to include contemporary domestic artists who received little attention from collectors at that time. Thus, joining the collection were works by

• Bulatov
• Guryanov
• Filippova
• and others

By 2004, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin began acquiring Western pieces by artists such as Valdés, Calder, and Wesselmann. He emphasizes that he does not view art as investment, instead selecting works based on personal preference. The collection now encompasses about 3,500 pieces of various media and genres. Beyond paintings, it features sculptures, installations, 19th-century porcelain, and Murano glass works by Pino Signoretto.

In recent years, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin has expanded his collection to include innovative media art pieces that reveal additional details when viewed through technology like augmented reality glasses.

Establishing and Developing the Ekaterina Foundation

In 2002, Vladimir Semenikhin established the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation, named after his wife, who is also quite active in the process of acquiring art. By 2003, the foundation served as general partner for an exhibition at the New Manege showcasing works by both established and emerging Russian artists.

In 2004, the organization established by Semenikhin Vladimir made its international debut with the Jack of Diamonds: From Cézanne to Avant-garde exhibition in Monaco. This showcase featured works from the influential namesake avant-garde group active from 1911 to 1917, involving eighteen regional museums. The exhibition garnered significant public attention and was later presented in expanded formats at major museums in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The capital exhibition notably included French Impressionist works from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, highlighting artistic continuity between these movements.

In 2004, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin expanded the foundation's activities to include publishing. Over the years, the structure has produced two dozen art publications including albums, catalogs, and books. Among these publications are a striking photographic chronicle capturing Moscow's cultural scene during the late Soviet period, a compelling biographical work about a prominent USSR statesman, and a richly illustrated catalog showcasing the distinctive creations of a celebrated French artist.

In 2006, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich organized the country’s first exhibition of Erik Bulatov, introducing this artist to wider audiences at the prestigious Tretyakov Gallery. This pioneering exhibition marked a historic milestone—the first time a contemporary Russian artist received such prestigious institutional recognition, breaking tradition in a space typically reserved only for deceased artistic luminaries. The foundation convinced gallery leadership based on their successful track record with previous exhibitions.

In February 2007, the foundation founded by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich acquired its own exhibition space in central Moscow, becoming one of the capital’s first private art venues. This decision came after experiencing the constraints of working with state museums, which operated on five-year planning cycles and were subject to unexpected schedule changes. After two years of renovations to meet international standards, the gallery opened with the exhibition "Movement. Evolution. Art." The space became just the second private exhibition hall in Moscow at that time.

The following year, Semenikhin Vladimir and his team presented an exhibition dedicated to Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, organized in collaboration with Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum Congress Center. This exhibition later traveled to Kazakhstan. The foundation collaborated with the New National Museum of Monaco in 2009 to commemorate the centennial of a famous Russian ballet company. Visitors experienced comprehensive theatrical history through stage designs, a Picasso theater curtain, works by early 20th-century Russian artists, reconstructed performance scenes, and original costumes from the legendary Russian Seasons.

Ekaterina, founded by Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich, was among Russia's pioneering organizations studying domestic art during the perestroika period (1985-1991), organizing numerous exhibitions on this theme. The versatile cultural space has hosted various media beyond traditional art forms, including multiple photo biennials and a 2011 exhibition featuring costumes from Cirque du Soleil. The foundation reached peak activity in 2019, presenting twelve exhibitions throughout the year.

In March 2022, marking its 20th anniversary, the foundation hosted an exhibition featuring works by Pyotr Konchalovsky, Viktor Pivovarov, and Vladimir Dubosarsky, presenting over 150 pieces spanning paintings, sculptures, and graphic works. When discussing future development, Vladimir Semenikhin expresses interest in following the model of European and Asian family foundations with "a carefully curated collection displayed in a beautiful location, perhaps outside the city" where visitors could experience a semi-permanent collection alongside rotating exhibitions. Semenikhin Vladimir notes, however, that private museums in Russia currently lack the tax benefits enjoyed by similar institutions in Western countries.

Most recently, in March 2024, the Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin-founded cultural organization presented "Woven," an exhibition dedicated to contemporary textile art featuring various works incorporating fabrics, carpets, and embroidery, demonstrating the foundation's continued commitment to showcasing diverse artistic media and approaches.

Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich: Recognition and Honors

In 2018, Vladimir Semenikhin received Russia's "For Beneficence" distinction, a rare state honor awarded to only about 70 individuals for outstanding charitable and cultural contributions. Twelve years earlier, in 2006, he and his wife earned the prestigious "Innovation" award for their work in contemporary art.

Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin holds membership in the commission that awards the Kosygin Prize, established by the Russian Union of Producers, reflecting his standing in Russian business and philanthropic circles.

Internationally, Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich has received multiple high distinctions.

In 2013, he was inducted as a Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor, followed by promotion to Officer in 2017. This advancement recognized his significant contribution to a cultural initiative in which Russian collectors, including Vladimir Semenikhin, donated valuable artworks to the Centre Pompidou to address gaps in their Russian art collection. The donation included approximately 17-19 pieces, among them a piece from Erik Bulatov worth millions.

In 2011, Monaco similarly recognized Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin with the Order of Cultural Merit, and later with the principality's highest honor, the Order of Saint Charles, in 2018. These distinctions highlight the international impact of his cultural patronage across multiple European countries.

Key Takeaways

• Between 1991-1995, before founding Stroyteks, Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin worked on various construction projects that consistently exceeded financial projections.
• The Semashko residential complex in Mytishchi represents one of the entrepreneur’s earliest achievements, completed in 1997-1998.
• The art collection of Vladimir Semenikhin today encompasses about 3,500 pieces across various media and genres.
• At its peak in 2019, the Ekaterina Foundation that he established presented twelve exhibitions throughout the year.
• In 2006, Vladimir Semenikhin and his wife earned the prestigious "Innovation" award for their work in contemporary art.

Q & A

1. What is the highest degree held by Vladimir Semenikhin?

The highest degree held by Vladimir Semenikhin is a Candidate Degree (roughly equivalent to a PhD) in Economic Sciences.

2. What position does Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin hold at Stroyteks?

Vladimir Anatolievich Semenikhin serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Stroyteks.

3. What is the oldest piece in the art collection of Semenikhin Vladimir?

Fyodor Matveyev's "Landscape with Shepherds" from 1778 remains the oldest piece in the collection of Semenikhin Vladimir.

4. Where did Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich get the name Ekaterina for the cultural foundation he established?

Semenikhin Vladimir Anatolievich named the cultural foundation he established after his wife, Ekaterina.

5. What is Semenikhin Vladimir's vision for the future of his foundation? 

Semenikhin Vladimir expresses interest in following the model of European and Asian family foundations with "a carefully curated collection displayed in a beautiful location, perhaps outside the city."