Her grandparents are notorious personalities in the world ofart and come from Bessarabia. She is the granddaughter of Mihail O. Gershenzon, distinguished phi- lologist at the beginning of 20th century and the niece of famous pianist Alexander Goldenwieser. In 1956, she graduated the Surikov State Institute of Art of Moscow. She obtained the title of candidate in the history of art (1986) and doctor in arts (2005). She worked as production designer in the theaters of Moscow, Astrakhan, Tula, Penza, Ryazan and Kalinin. She collaborated as illustrator with editions "Детская литература"/ "Children's Literature" and "Художественная литература"/ "Imaginative Literature", being mentioned as art critic and art chronicler. Many of her works were dedicated to modern graphic art.The book of M. A. Chegodaeva"Graphic of post-war Soviet book" became of the most fundamentally deepest scientific work on this subject. The most significant works are the monographs about the operas of V. Minaev, B. Basov, D. Smarinov, V. Favorsky, Miturich-Khlebnikov dynasty and the academicians of the Russian Academy of Art. Maria Cegodaeva is the author of 30 books and over 200 articles about the graphic of Soviet and Russian book. She became corresponding member (1997) and fellow (2001) of the Russian Academy of Arts; member of Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts (2005).