He was born in Yerevan in the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic on 9 December 1944 to Boris Piotrovsky, an Orientalist and himself the future director of the Hermitage Museum, and Armenian mother Hripsime Djanpoladjian, archaeologist and epigrapher.

[5] After 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Piotrovsky spoke of the importance of cultural bridges and made sure major loans avoided seizure and were returned to Russia.

He spoke out against the cancellation of Russian culture but avoided direct references to the war, even as museum partners and international supporters suspended ties.

He describes Russian culture as an important export, similar to the country's war in Ukraine.

[3] On 1 October 2009, Piotrovsky received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Kennan Institute.