Michelle Massey

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 […] Read more

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 […] Read more

A Homespun Life: Textiles of Old Russia

Online Exhibition 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 […] Read more

The Road North

The Road North brings together over fifty works by leading postwar Soviet painters whose portrayal of traditional life in the small villages and ancient towns of the Russian North stood in stark contrast to the focus on industrialization characteristic of socialist realism. This thematically consistent sample of post-Stalinist art demonstrates Soviet painters’ openness to exploring […] Read more

Matryoshka: The Russian Nesting Doll

Matryoshka: The Russian Nesting Doll, features Matryoshkas on loan from a private collector in San Francisco. These brightly painted wooden objects have become a symbol of Russia and Russian folk art; their bell-shaped silhouettes are familiar to the young and old. Whether depicting ancient legends, religious themes, or political caricatures, Matryoshkas can tell us more […] Read more