M. KELNER GALLERY

Having been brought up within an émigré community of Soviet artists, dissidents, writers and musicians, there is no separating my family's journey to America from the task of finding a common thread among the artists featured here. These are parallel narratives and whether working on a short story or screenplay or curating an exhibit of fine art, I am, above all, a storyteller. Much of my own creative work is fueled by growing up between two cultures; Russian was my first language, though I was born and raised in the United States. While the anecdotes are plenty, the duality remains the same, often as a doorway to new insights and observation.

Since 2001, sourcing and sharing Russian paintings has been a passion. In exploring why my parents immigrated to America and under what conditions, I looked to the art of the times for answers. What I discovered was a sense of urgency and controversy — visual protest and an emotional reaction to Soviet suppression and censorship over all artistic endeavors. In a period when any expression was a political act in and of itself, these artists gave voice to those who could not be heard. In turn, they made not only art history, but in their own way, helped give shape to world history. By investigating the subtext of these works — especially of those completed in the Soviet era — I have gained a better awareness of self.

I hope you enjoy viewing these Russian non-conformist paintings and sculptures, which showcase some of the country's more established and famed artists of the past 40 years. This is a rare opportunity to explore some of Russia's most idiosyncratic art and a chance to see new images created in the West, yet distinctively part of a larger, international body of work. Of late, artists represented here have been exhibited at Documenta, the Venice Biennale, the Saatchi Gallery, and the Louvre among other top institutional venues. Having developed relationships with museums, auction houses, corporate and private collections worldwide, I look forward to better serving both established collectors and those just starting out.