Painter, graphic artist. In 1946–1948 he studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Riga, in 1948–1949 he attended the Surikov Moscow State Institute of Fine Art, from which he was expelled for "formalism".Oscar Rabin is one of the leaders of Russian Non-conformism. The style of his art was formed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when the atmosphere of change generated by the "Thaw" affected the artistic community. At that time Rabin was in close contact with E.L.Kropivnitsky, the artist and poet who inspired and led a group of artists later called The Lianozovo Group. These were the first Soviet artists to become interested in the latest trends in Western art and Russian avant-garde, which had been ignored for a long time. Such liberties were dubbed "formalism" and this kind of art was barred from official exhibitions. As for members of the Lianozovo Group, this kind of art was above all a synonym of freedom expressed by poetic and plastic means. Although Rabin’s art in the 1960s was inseparable from the activities of the Lianozovo Group, it bore a distinctive mark differed it from other members of the group. He never dabbled in abstract art although nearly all the underground artists of the day were preoccupied with experiments with non-objective art. His portrayal of dismal, oppressive and poverty-stricken Soviet life always revealed his personal views on Soviet realities and at the same time his canvasses reflected a genuine religious feeling. His style almost never changed for decades. From time to time Rabin inserted collage elements in his paintings as social signs. This technique is reminiscent of American Pop art. In 1974 Rabin was among the organizers of the "Bulldozer" and "The Izmailovo" Exhibitions. Later he became one of the founding fathers of the first Underground association of artists The Moscow Committee of Graphic Artists in Malaya Gruzinskaya Street. Rabin has lived in Paris since he emigrated to France in 1978.