My friend Rob Ober is a passionate historian and art collector with an eponymous gallery in Kent, Connecticut. This week I had the pleasure of attending the opening of his spectacular new show of Russian Nonconformist Art . The “Nonconformist” label was applied to any artist in post-Stalin Soviet Union who deviated from the aesthetic mandate of Soviet Socialist Realism. These artists were captivated by emerging styles like Cubism, Futurism and Surrealism, and despite harsh censorship, produced some of the era’s definitive works.
Several of these so-called blasphemous works were included in the epic 2005 Guggenheim retrospective, Russia! Remarkable backstory aside, I wanted to take several of the pieces home with me. These three were my personal favorites:
“Early Morning” by Vladimir Nemukhin
“Abstract Composition” by Lydia Masterkova
“Molotov Cocktail” by Alexander Kosolapov
The gallery—which also showcases works by local New England artists—is well worth a visit any time, but I heartily recommend checking out this major Connecticut show, up through mid-April. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Image credits as linked above
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