Abstract
Ilbek Khairulinov is a vivid representative of the Altai painting of the second half of the ХХ century. He succeeded as an original and versatile figure in art: as an artist-realist, who exposed many facets of his talent to the viewer and left rich artistic heritage, as an art critic - an explorer of Altai painters’ works, and as a teacher, who captivates young artists opening up new horizons for them. The works of this painter are indicative in terms of studying the creation of an artistic image reflecting the era and contemporaries’ individuality.