September 3, 2010 – February 27, 2011

The Art of Vasili Nechitailo

The second installment of TMORA's "Discovering 20th Century Russian Masters" series, The Art of Vasili Nechitailo marks the first individual showing of Nechitailo's works outside of Russia.

Born in a village in the Kuban region of southern Russia, Vasili Nechitailo (1915-1980) received rigorous academic training in Moscow. He is recognized for his remarkable artistic style-Nechitailo's innate sense of color and unique color solutions were acclaimed by his fellow artists and as well as art critics. Throughout his career, his native Kuban retained an irresistible fascination for him and he frequently traveled from Moscow to southern Russia to portray the vastness of freshly ploughed fields and dazzling golden mountains of harvested wheat shoveled by sun burnt collective farmers. His bold and lavish brushstrokes are highly expressive and the interplay of pictorial elements often dominates the subject matter. Nechitailo's great mastery in conveying spontaneous and unsentimental beauty through his virtuoso use of paint has made him one of the most renowned Russian artists of the 20th century.

Part 1 of the "Discovering 20th Century Russian Masters" series, Raising the Banner: The Art of Geli Korzhev, was named 2007's Best Art Exhibition by Mpls./St. Paul Magazine.

Now on View

A Homespun Life: Textiles of Old Russia

This original exhibition presents over one hundred artifacts revealing the rich peasant culture of northern and central Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Featured are towels, bed skirts, area rugs, and pillow covers, along with spinning tools, garments, and costumes produced by peasant spinners, weavers and dressmakers. Designs and patterns were specific to regional centers of production, such as the Vologda, Riazan and Nizhnii Novgorod regions represented in this exhibition.

In 19th century Russia, traditional textiles were made at home. From planting the flax from which thread was spun to sewing a dress, women produced most everything needed by a peasant household. Long Russian autumns and winters were spent spinning, knitting, weaving, sewing, and embroidering. An elaborate display demonstrates the use of textiles in a peasant household at the turn of the last century.

Soviet modernization largely destroyed traditional Russian culture in the 20th century, but the remarkable objects on display in A Homespun Life: Textiles of Old Russia bring to life a peasant lifestyle long gone.

All items on loan from the collection of Ms. Susan Johnson.

Now on View

The Enchanted Art: A Legacy in Russian Lacquer

Richly detailed, carefully crafted and colorful, the 65 lacquer miniatures on display reveal the distinct styles and unique artistry that developed in four Russian villages: Fedoskino, Kholui, Mstera and Palekh. Fairytales, literary works, historical events, and episodes from everyday life are a few of the wide-ranging themes depicted on these exquisite objects. On view for the first time, the exhibition features lacquer miniatures from TMORA’s permanent collection, and works on loan from private lenders. A must see!