🗓️November 13, 2008 – February 7, 2009
CHELSEA ART MUSEUM
📍556 West 22nd Street
New York, NY, USA
From Non-Conformism to Feminisms: Russian Women Artists from the Kolodzei Art Foundation
Curated by Natalia Kolodzei
Opening Reception: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Chelsea Art Museum – Home of the Miotte Foundation – proudly presents From Non-Conformism to Feminisms: Russian Women Artists from the Kolodzei Art Foundation, an exhibition showcasing the artistic evolution of Russian women across three generations, from the 1960s to today. This selection from the renowned Kolodzei Collection of Russian and Eastern European Art features works in diverse media, including painting, works on paper, photography, and video.
This exhibition brings together emerging, mid-career, and established artists, illustrating the trajectory of non-conformist and independent art in Russia. Spanning artists from their 30s to their 80s, the exhibition highlights the creative resilience and achievements of Russian women in the arts. Designed to foster cultural exchange and public awareness, it also seeks to empower women artists in pursuing their creative visions.
The first generation includes pioneering artists from the Khrushchev “Thaw” era of the 1950s, who participated in the pivotal unofficial exhibitions of the 1970s, such as Lydia Masterkova, Valentina Kropivnitskaya, and Rimma Gerlovina. The second generation, active in the early 1980s, includes Maria Elkonina, Bella Levikova, Natalia Nesterova, Tatyana Nazarenko, and others. The latest generation consists of post-perestroika and post-Soviet artists, such as Natalia Kamenetskaia, Alla Esipovich, Marina Koldobskaya, and Anna Frants, whose works reflect the dynamic changes in contemporary Russian art.
Founded in the 1960s during the Cold War by Tatiana Kolodzei, the Kolodzei Collection has grown to encompass over 7,000 works by more than 300 artists from Russia and the former Soviet Union. Today, it continues to evolve under the stewardship of Natalia Kolodzei, documenting the history and impact of non-conformist and independent art.
Non-conformist art, often referred to as “underground” or “unofficial” art, emerged as a response to the rigid doctrines of Socialist Realism. From Non-Conformism to Feminisms captures the essence of Russian alternative culture and traces the evolution of women’s contributions to this movement over the past six decades.
The Chelsea Art Museum
556 West 22nd Street (at 11th Avenue)
New York, NY 10011
Tel: 212.255.0719
Museum Hours:
Tuesday–Saturday: 11am–6pm
Thursday: 11am–8pm
For further information, please contact:
Nicollette Ramirez – 212.255.0719 x108 – nicollette@chelseaartmuseum.org
Natalia Kolodzei – 732.545.8425 – kolodzei@kolodzeiart.org
About the Kolodzei Art Foundation
Established in 1991 as a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, the Kolodzei Art Foundation promotes cultural exchange and supports exhibitions in museums and cultural centers worldwide. The foundation also publishes books on Russian art and provides resources for artists. With one of the world’s largest private collections of Russian and Eastern European art, the Kolodzei Collection features paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and videos, chronicling four decades of artistic development.
About the Chelsea Art Museum
Dedicated to showcasing international art, the Chelsea Art Museum serves as a platform for innovative artists and thematic exhibitions often overlooked by larger institutions. It also facilitates global exchange programs and interdisciplinary collaborations, inspired by the legacy of the Jean Miotte Foundation, which is housed within the museum. With a focus on the intersection of art, music, and dance, CAM fosters a dynamic environment for artistic expression and dialogue.