Igor Tulipanov (born 1939) is a Russian-American painter born in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Igor Tulipanov began to paint in early childhood. He was a student at M. Gorohova's paint shop. He studied at Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy, St. Petersburg for a year. Later he was enrolled at St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute for four years. After that, Igor studied at Repin State Academic Institute of Painting Sculpture and Architecture, St. Petersburg. He did not graduate from these institutions.
In 1959, Igor Tulipanov became a student of Nikolai Akimov, artist, critic, stage director and teacher. It was under his guidance that Tulipanov received his art education. In 1964, Tulipanov graduated from Ostrovsky St Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy. After graduation, he started a career in production design. He worked at theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg until 1968. Igor's early exhibitions often provoked scandals, early terminations, and scathing publications in Soviet mass media.
In May 1979, Tulipanov emigrated to the United States.
In 1977, Igor married Elena Tulipanov, who is also a painter. Elena frequently assists with the meticulous detailing in the patterns and designs in Igor's acrylic paintings. When Elena contributes to the creation of a painting, Igor includes an "E" next to his trademark signature of an "IT" monogram to acknowledge her contribution.