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World Reknown Artist Calls Brentwood Home - Scott Couch
He's a Russian born and classically trained portrait artist who counts entertainers, sports heroes and world leaders among his clients.
And Igor Babailov makes his home right here in middle Tennessee.
From his studio in Brentwood, Babailov was recently commissioned to paint the portrait of Pope Benedict.
The painter tells Fox 17 News the sitting Pope sat for him for 90-minutes for his official portrait.
The Vatican had previously called upon Babailov to paint the portrait of then sitting Pope, John Paul the II.
Other famous Babailov clients include: President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandella.
From the world of entertainment, he's painted portraits for hockey legend Bobby Orr, NFL running back Tiki Barber, sportscaster Bob Kostas and James Gandolfinini, the actor who portrays Tony Soprano on the popular cable series "The Soprano's."
Babailov says he loves the architecture in middle Tennessee.
As for Nashville, he says it really lives up to its moniker, "The Athens of the South."
While he travels the world to meet his clients, Babailov says it's always good to be back home in Brentwood.
Babailov says he also likes southern food, saying it reminds him of the kinds of things he used to eat back home in Russia. World Reknown Artist Calls Brentwood Home - Scott Couch
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