Tolyatti Mosaic Icon Artist Dies at 54

In Tolyatti, a well-known artist, designer, and craftswoman who created mosaic icons for churches across Russia has passed away. In April 2026, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer with liver metastases. Natalya Lipunova fought the severe illness until her last day and, together with her loved ones, believed in a miracle. The death of the Tolyatti resident was reported by her close friend.

“Today, 2 August, our Natalya passed away. My Natasha. We all prayed, believed, hoped. It feels as if a part of you has been taken away. A part of me has been taken away. I met Natalya when I was pregnant with my eldest, more than 15 years ago. I came to do a radio interview with a master who makes mosaic icons and works with disabled children in puppet crafts. I asked to become her student. But that path turned out to be a long one. It was later that we ‘grew fins together,’ but at first I had to earn Natasha’s trust. For everyone in her inner circle, Natasha was ready to walk across a desert, pull the moon from the sky, break through ice with her bare hands so that the little boat could sail. She did that more than once for her loved ones. It was she who saved her mother, took her to St. Petersburg, and secured the best surgeon. It was she who gave her children her last, or even more than she could. It was she who taught her students as no one else does. It was she who taught us to love when it is beautiful. She taught us courage in thoughts, outfits, and deeds. She taught faith by her own example. She was there in the most difficult and joyful moments,” wrote Ekaterina Boyakova.

She added that she had called Natasha every day for many years. The last month was the hardest.

“A feeling of constant pain, a stroke against the backdrop of the underlying illness — intestinal cancer, partial consciousness, mechanical ventilation, coma. She passed away at 54. Her 55th birthday was supposed to have a circus theme. That is so like her — to laugh at age and conventions. I hug you, my Natasha!” said Ekaterina.

Help can be sent to the family via the card of Natalya Lipunova’s son. Card: 2202 2023 2336 6132. Zakhar Aleksandrovich I.

The farewell will take place on Tuesday, 4 August, at the Church of Seraphim of Sarov. The funeral service begins at 11:00, and the body will be carried out at 11:30. Address: Stepan Razin Avenue, 86A. By the way, Natalya’s workshop is in the same building, but in the neighboring entrance — there she and her husband Aleksandr made icons together. The couple often spent days on end in the workshop, creating another masterpiece.

“Very often I started the day at 6 a.m., swam in the pool, came to the workshop, and disappeared here… To some, the work may seem monotonous, but I see it differently. What does Natasha do? She looks into the eyes of holy images. Can one dream of any other job?” the artist said in an interview with TOLYATTY.ru.

Read the story of the heroine’s battle with the deadly illness in our material.