Artist Valentin Fedorovich Papko was born in September 1939 in the stanitsa of Novominskaya in the Krasnodar Krai. In 1957, he entered the Penza Art School, later transferring to the Krasnodar Art School, which he graduated from in 1963. Since 1968, he has participated in various exhibitions: group, city, regional, and international. In 1970, he completed his studies in the monumental painting department at the Moscow Higher Artistic and Industrial School, formerly known as Stroganov School. From 1970 to 1995, he worked at the Krasnodar Artistic Creative Production Combine, where he was involved in mosaics, tapestries, painting, and reliefs. Since 1973, he has been a member of the Union of Artists of Russia. He is a Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, a professor, and the head of the monumental painting workshop at the Faculty of Culture and Arts of KGUKE. He is a laureate of the Krasnodar Krai Administration Award in the field of science, culture, and education. He currently teaches at the Krasnodar State University of Culture and Arts in the Department of Monumental Painting. His most famous work, 'Not Even Dreamed. June 22, 1941,' reflects the beginning of a terrible tragedy for both one family and the entire nation.