May 20 (7), 1897 (Saratov) — July 13, 1992 (Berlin)  Nikolay Zagrekov was born to family of a lawyer. After gymnasium, Zagrekov studied at the Bogolyubov Drawing School under the guidance of F. M. Korneev (1914–1918). He also studied at the State Free Art Workshop (Svomas) under A. E. Karev and A. I. Savinov (1918–1921). In 1919 Zagrekov moved to Moscow, entered the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS). He studied in the class of P. P. Konchalovsky and I. I. Mashkov. In 1922 Zagrekov with his wife, the Volga German, Gerthruda Haller moved to Berlin. He entered the Professional School of art and handicraft of West Berlin. He studied in the class of the professor Harold Bengen (1922–1925). Since 1925 Zagrekov taught portrait painting and academy figure in this School (1933).  In mid 1920s — early 1930s Zagrekov worked a lot, gave private lessons, sold his paintings. It was flourishing period of his life. He participated in the exhibitions of the Prussian Academy of Arts, Munich and Vienna Secessions, exhibitions of the Union of Berlin Painters (he was a member of the Union); the exhibitions were held in Berlin, Munich, Paris, and Vienna. In 1933, after establishment of Nazi regime, Zagrekov was discharged from the Professional School of art and handicraft. From 1934 till 1944 he worked at the private school of painting in the open air Freilicht–Malschule in Berlin. In 1937 he became a director of the school.  In 1930s Zagrekov was engaged in architecture projects: he created architectural design for monuments. In 1944 he took the lead in restoration of building of the Union of Berlin Painters, which was ruined by bombardment. He also created several projects of restoration of the building (till 1949). In 1950 he was elected an honored member and deputy chairman of the Union of Berlin Painters.  When the Red Army arrived in Berlin, the house of Nikolay Zagrekov became the Soviet commandant’s office. In 1945–1948 Zagrekov received the order from General Headquaters to paint 12 portraits of marshals, including G. K. Zhukov and K. K. Rokosovsky. Since 1950s till the end of his life Zagrekov worked as a free artist and architect. In 1960 he became chief architect of the whole quarter in Berlin. He painted landscape of environs of Berlin, still lifes, portraits of many statesmen of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), including Chancellor Willy Brandt and President Walter Scheel. In 1979 Nikolay Zagrekov was awarded Ehrenkreuz (the Cross of Honor) for great services to the country. Zagrekov was also conferred title of honored academician and was awarded gold medal for services in culture and art by the Academy of Arts in Italia. In 1986 he became laureate of the European prize Golden palm-branch of Europe. In 1991 the last personal exhibition of Zagrekov was held in Berlin. After the death of the artist, the Society of Zagrekov’s friends and the Museum were organized in his house. In 2004 the exhibition Nikolay Zagrekov: Return to Russia was held in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg within the German–Russian Year of Culture.