Born in 1944.

1969 — M.A. in Design. Stroganov Art Academy, Moscow, Russia.

1975–1979 — Ph.D. in Cultural Studies. Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, Russia.

Paperny’s thesis on the architecture of Stalin’s time was published in the United States in Russian under the title “Culture Two” (Ann Arbor, 1985).

Candidate of Cultural Sciences (RGGU, 2000). In 1981 Paperny emigrated from the USSR.

Paperny has worked as an art director and head of advertising in various US companies. Since 1987 he has headed the VPA Design Studio.

Since 2013 — Associate Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

He lives in Los Angeles.