Aristarkh Lentulov was born in the Chornaya Pyatina Village of the Penza Province on January 16, 1882. His father was a village priest and died when Aristarkh was just two years old. The boy was educated in a religious school and then in a theological seminary. However, the future artist did not want to follow the steps of his father as a priest.
He was much more interested in art. To study art Aristarkh Lentulov entered the Penza art school and went on his education in the Kiev Art College. Financial straits forced the beginning artist to permanently look for some side jobs, such as painting lessons and orders.

As a student yet Aristarkh Lentulov actively participated in the exhibitions Venok and Stephanos. In those years he was especially carried away by the creative manner of Filipp Malyavin and Mikhail Vrubel. However impudent behavior forced Aristarkh to return to Penza. Afterwards he tried to enter the Arts Academy in St. Petersburg, but failed some exam.
Starting from 1907 Aristarkh Lentulov was on friendly terms with David Burliuk. At that time the artist studied works by classics of painting and participated in numerous exhibitions. In 1908 he painted The Portrait of Four. He was also into landscapes. Over the years Aristarkh Lentulov’s creative manner was getting more and more expressive.
He went on his art training in Paris, where he entered La Palette Academy in 1910. This is where he got acquainted with Jean Metzinger and Albert Gleize, who developed the ideas of Cubism. Aristarkh Lentulov's canvasses of that period are made as several planes brightly painted in various colours (Ringing, Moscow, St. Basil).
In the 1920s Aristarkh Lentulov shifted to more figurative paintings. He became chairman of the Moscow Artists Society and painted still lifes, portraits, and landscapes (Vegetables, Sunset over Volga). Aristarkh Lentulov was also into stage design (the Demon opera, the Spanish Artist play). Staginess was inherent in all of his works, including portraits and landscapes.
The artist always combined his creative activities with working as a teacher at the Moscow Art Institute and the VKHUTEMAS (Higher Art and Technical Studios).
Aristarkh Lentulov died in Moscow on April 15, 1943.