Pavel Tchelitchew (21 September 1898 – 31 July 1957) was a Russian-born surrealist painter, set designer and costume designer. Tchelitchew was born to an aristocratic family of landowners and was educated by private tutors. Tchelitchew expressed an early interest in ballet and art.
He left Russia in 1920, lived in Berlin from 1921 to 1923, and moved to Paris in 1923. In Paris Tchelitchew became acquainted with Gertrude Stein and, through her, the Sitwell and Gorer families. He and Edith Sitwell had a long-standing close friendship and they corresponded frequently.
His first U.S. show was of his drawings, along with other artists, was at the newly opened Museum of Modern art in 1930. In 1934, he moved from Paris to New York City with his partner, writer Charles Henri. From 1940 to 1947, he provided illustrations for the Surrealist magazine View, edited by Ford and writer and film critic Parker Tyler. His most significant work is the painting Hide and Seek, painted in 1940-1942, and currently owned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
He became a United States citizen in 1952 and died in Grottaferrata, Italy in 1957.