St. Petersburg has always enjoyed a well-earned reputation as a bohemian city. Russia’s first Academy of Arts was founded here in 1757, only about 50 years after the city was founded. The Academy, along with several other top schools, still trains some of the best artists in the world. They form an entirely new world filled with envelope-pushing paintings, multimedia projects, films, collages, photographs, and more. Here’s where you can find thought-provoking and inspiring exhibitions by new artists.
Kraski Zhizni (Colors of Life) gallery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorslifegallery/
Address: Bolshoy Prospekt PS, 7/4
This gallery, located in one of the most interesting central districts of St.Petersburg, was founded in 2018 and quickly became a popular place for modern art exhibitions, both academic and unconventional ones. Among the artists whose works have been exhibited there recently are the artist Mikhail Kalyuta, who is only 16 years old but has already been praised by critics for his ability to create a distinctive and colorful world in his works, and Nadezhda Vorontsova, an artist who prefers to capture the moment in sketches. Last month, she presented a series of works dedicated to the female image.
On November 13, 2020, a new exhibition called Discovering New Names will open here. It will be composed of select works by young artists that they submitted as part of the gallery’s contest. The final day of submission is today, so it’s still a mystery whose works we’ll get to see, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
The Museum of 20th and 21st century St. Petersburg Art (MISP)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misp_spb/
Address: Griboyedov Canal Embankment, 103
At this venue focused on works by local artists, you can check out a unique collection composed of both paintings and art installations. Out of recent artists exhibited there, you may find such interesting names as Alexander Lotsman, one of the artists from the Pushkinskaya 10 Art Center, and Marina Azizyan, who is not only a painter, but also an experienced scenographer, who earlier this year presented an exhibition dedicated to Tonino Guerra, an Italian poet and screenwriter.
On November 10, 2020 MISP opens its doors again with lots of new exciting art pieces. More precisely, an international exhibition called Mirrors and Mirrorland (Zerkala i Zazerkal’e) is now on display. As part of it, more than 130 artists have shared their visions and interpretations of the given topic.
Union of Artists of St.Petersburg’s exhibition center
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unionofartists_spb/
Address: Bolshaya Morskaya St., 38
The Union of Artists of St.Petersburg (Sankt-Peterburgskiy Soyuz Khudozhnikov) is an organization that supports local artists by organizing art exhibitions, contests, and concerts. It’s been active since 1932, helping thousands of artists share their works with the public. Their permanent collection includes around 9,000 pieces.
On November 5, 2020, the Union of Artists launched a new exhibition composed of works by young artists of St. Petersburg. It includes paintings, drawings, as well as works of sculpture, ceramics, and applied arts. It will only last until November 15, so don’t miss your chance to become one of the first appreciators of tomorrow’s outstanding masters!
It’s impossible to fit all the great venues of St.Petersburg in just one list but we hope that our suggestions will help you set off on a journey into the world of local art. For more ideas, follow our weekly This Weekend in St. Petersburg articles and check out our earlier stories on local museums of modern art, a mansion once owned by Ilya Repin, and restoration of classic art. Enjoy and don’t forget to follow social distancing rules!
