Russian Art Week London 2014

You might not know that 2014 is actually the UK-Russia Year of Culture, so if you have always held a special place in your heart for Russian art, now is the time to declare it. And what better opportunity to indulge our love of Russian culture than the fifth edition of Russian Art Week London this November. Founded by Theodora Clarke in 2012, Russian Art Week is a comprehensive bi-annual occurrence which unites lovers of Russian art and culture in a series of exhibitions, auctions and events.
Auction Sales
As always during Russian Art Week London, the international Auction Houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s, MacDougall’s and Bonhams are all hosting major sales where priceless items from antiques to the decorative arts can be found. We can also look forward to Maxim Boxer, auction house Alfa Art co-founder, presenting his second contemporary Russian art auction in London on the theme of ‘metaphysics’.
Events
Away from the commercial world, there are some big name Russian events to look out for, including the Victoria & Albert Museum London’s latest exhibition of Russian Avant-garde Theatre. We also don’t want to miss the wonderful pianist Alexei Volodin at the Southbank Centre and of course the iconic Swan Lake and Nutcracker from the English National Ballet.
Exhibitions
And if the visual arts are your thing, there are a whole host of Russian art exhibitions across town from established galleries to exciting smaller venues to be discovered. Elena Shchukina’s new Mayfair gallery is certainly worth a visit, where the first UK one-man show of Leonid Borisov is taking place. Other Mayfair destinations to have on your radar include the Jan Morsink Ikonen Gallery where there is an exhibition of Russian icons from the 15^th to 19^th centuries, and the Mayfair Gallery’s Masterpieces of Imperial Russia. Bigger names on the bill are GRAD: Gallery for Russian Arts and Design’s response to the First World War in Game in Hell: The Great War in Russia and The Courtauld Gallery London’s look at the highly influential avant-garde group, Jack of Diamonds. For more in the know venues try the Halcyon Gallery’s contemporary artist Dashi Namdakov and his Eurasian and Buddhist inspired works, or Russian portraits from the 18^th to 20^th centuries at St Petersburg Gallery.