03 june – 27 september
VERA MUKHINA: DIALOGUES AND PERSPECTIVES is an ambitious project by the All Russian Museum of Decorative Art, offering a new perspective on the work of the creator of the legendary "Worker and Collective Farm Woman". The exhibition shows Mukhina not only as the author of iconic monuments but also as an artist-researcher, an innovator in the fields of artistic glass, architecture, and decorative sculpture of the 20th century. The display features works from 16 state museums and private collections, some of which are shown in Moscow for the first time.
The exhibition spans nearly half a century of artistic exploration: from her apprenticeship in Paris (1912–1914) and her introduction to the Italian and French glass workshops, to the establishment of an experimental laboratory for artistic glass in Leningrad. The exhibition brings together works from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, the Shchusev Museum of Architecture, and other leading organizations. The general partner is the State Russian Museum.
Apprenticeship and European Dialogues
The first section is dedicated to Mukhina's path as an artist. It explores the influence of her teacher Antoine Bourdelle, her trips through Italy and France, and her encounter with antiquity and the Renaissance. Viewers will see references to ancient subjects in Mukhina's famous works, including "Worker and Collective Farm Woman". Her creative dialogues with French masters René Lalique and Marius Sabino, whose crystal fountains and Art Deco sculpture found new interpretations in the Soviet context draw special attention.
Glass and Monumental Art
The central section focuses on Mukhina's period of work at the experimental artistic glass workshop (later the Leningrad Artistic Glass Factory). Together with chemist Nikolai Kachalov, she developed innovative glass compositions, surpassing marble in strength. It was during this time that the famous columns for the Avtovo metro station were created. The exhibition features rare examples of glass sculpture, including "Wind" from the museum's collection, as well as the legendary portrait bust "Comrade from the Trade Unions", which was exhibited at the New York World's Fair and has recently returned to Russia.
Mukhina’s Contemporary
The exhibition concludes with a dialogue between Mukhina's legacy and the works of contemporary glass artists – Andrey Krivolapov, Alexey Drozhdin, and Anton Lukashov. The works of our contemporaries demonstrate how the ideas and techniques of the great master continue to live on in modern art.
The project curator and concept author is Kirill Gavrilin. The architect and artistic concept author is Yulia Napolova.
The exhibition is accompanied by a special project, "Moscow From Mukhina’s Perspective" – a guide map to Vera Mukhina's significant locations (partner – VDNKh), as well as an educational program.
