The name of Alex Gard is little known in our country, but in the USA he was one of the most popular and successful caricaturists. Among his models were top stars such as Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn. Gard passed away surrounded by honor and fame, but few knew that his real name was Alexey Mikhailovich Kremkov, a Russian sailor who, by fate's will, ended up abroad. He was born in 1898 in Kazan, studied at the Naval School, and served in the Pacific Fleet, where his artistic talent first emerged: he often created funny caricatures of his fellow servicemen. Later, his ability to draw portraits saved him from starving to death in America.

After the Civil War, Kremkov moved to the USA. At first, he worked as an artist for The New Yorker, and in 1926 he received an offer from entrepreneur Vincenzo Sardi to decorate his Italian restaurant. There, American bohemia often gathered: actors, dancers, singers, journalists, and producers. Kremkov's caricatures became one of the hallmarks of the establishment. Some artists were not shy about posing for him in revealing outfits and without makeup. Alexey Mikhailovich's works were incredibly successful, and over time it became a great honor if your portrait hung in Sardi's restaurant.

In 1940, Alexey Mikhailovich became a US citizen and, in memory of his naval service, took the surname Gard, short for gardemarin. Soon he found himself back in the navy: during World War II, he voluntarily joined the ranks of the US Navy, continuing to draw and creating a whole collection of humorous works about the life of sailors. Gard passed away at the age of 50, in the prime of his life. He was exiting the subway when he felt a sharp pain in his chest, clutched his heart, and fell. Bystanders called for an ambulance, but the talented artist could not be saved.