Novosibirsk is the third most populated and twelfth most populated area of Russia. It was founded in 1893. The city has a large number of art galleries, including the State Art Museum. Novosibirsk, whose history is still so comparatively short, has already been recognized as one of the cultural centers of the country. And the expositions of glyptothecs attract the inhabitants of the entire region.
Museum History
The Novosibirsk Art Museum is located in the heart of the regional center. It was opened for visiting in 1958, but long before that, the young city sought to find its own art gallery. For this purpose, in 1927, at the art exhibition held in Novosibirsk, 45 works by various artists were acquired. But then the attempt to create an exposure failed.
The decision to open the gallery was made only thirty years later. And since 1957, the formation of the collection of the future glyptothek began, and a year later the first exhibition was opened in the art museum. Novosibirsk finally got its own gallery, which hospitably opened its doors for all art lovers. The foundation of its fund was exhibits provided by the museums of Moscow and Leningrad. Among them are the State Hermitage and the Tretyakov Gallery, which presented 60 works by N. K. Roerich.
They have become an invaluable contribution to the collection of the museum and are now presented in a permanent exhibition. In addition, private collectors provided substantial assistance to the young museum. Thus, the gallery created a not very large, but undoubtedly valuable collection of paintings. Over time, the exposition replenished, including very actively in the last twenty years.
In 2004, the gallery acquired a higher status and a new name - the State Art Museum. Novosibirsk has become an even more significant cultural center of the country. Now the gallery has many exhibitions, both on a permanent and temporary basis.
Iconography and Russian painting of the 18th – 19th centuries
The Novosibirsk Art Museum has a collection of the most valuable icons of the 16th – 20th centuries. This is the image of the Moscow school, the Urals and Siberia. In addition, a collection of folk icons brought from expeditions in the region should be noted. The collection has over five hundred exhibits.
The State Art Museum - the Novosibirsk hotbed of art - presents a significant exposition of Russian painting of the 18th – 19th centuries. An example of a portrait genre are canvases by V. L. Borovikovsky and V. A. Tropinin. The paintings of L.F. Lagorio reflect the landscape features of those times. The gallery also displays the work of the Wanderers, including I. E. Repin, I. I. Levitan, V. M. Vasnetsov and others.
Russian painting of the XX – XXI centuries and foreign art
The Novosibirsk Art Museum presents an extensive exhibition of paintings from the beginning of the 20th century. In particular, we are talking about the masters of the Union of Russian Artists: S. Yu. Zhukovsky, L.V. Turzhansky and others. Russian expressionism is represented by canvases by B. D. Grigoriev.
The gallery also offers an exhibition of Soviet art. But the Art Museum is also rich in modern painting. Novosibirsk gave rise to many talented painters, whose canvases are also represented in the gallery.
The collection of foreign art includes a not very large collection of tempera, as well as prints and sculptures. The graphic department includes reproductions of works by European artists. The exhibition of paintings is mainly represented by paintings by artists from the Italian, Dutch and French schools. The exposition of contemporary foreign art includes primarily the works of masters from Italy, Australia and Japan.
Museum tours and additional services
It is worth noting the fascinating thematic excursions that are held at the State Art Museum - the Novosibirsk pride and center of life in the region. They are dedicated to Russian painting and sculpture of different centuries.
There are also excursions introducing the technique of icon painting and folk art. Even preschoolers will be interested in visiting the museum: there is a special introductory lesson especially for them. On it, children will get acquainted with the building, learn how to behave when visiting the art gallery. The first visit will create a general idea of genres and types of art and will be the initial stage of the cultural development of the individual.
It is worth noting a very pleasant additional service provided by the art museum (Novosibirsk). Photos of the wedding dance can be captured in the magnificent walls of the main hall of the gallery. This will make the first waltz truly unforgettable.
Illusions. Fourth dimension
Separately, it is worth mentioning a very original exhibition, which is currently represented by the Art Museum (Novosibirsk) - “Illusions. Fourth dimension". This is a real exhibition of miracles and magic! Having visited it, you can discover a lot of new things about how our brain is deceiving us, and the sensory organs are misleading. The illusions presented on display are captivating and invariably astounding. There are three-dimensional drawings and photographs, holograms from many countries of the world.
Visitors will be able to find themselves in the jaws of a dinosaur or shrink to the size of an Thumbelina. This makes the exhibition of illusions truly interesting and exciting.
Museum activities today
The gallery regularly holds review lectures on the history of art, as well as scientific conferences and seminars. But not only this is an interesting art museum. Novosibirsk became one of the cities of Siberia in which the State Hermitage Museum held exhibitions. Now the gallery is actively collaborating with museums in Omsk, Barnaul, Irkutsk, which undoubtedly serves to unite the cultural space of Russia.
Every two years, the International Biennale of Contemporary Graphics is held in Novosibirsk. Thanks to this, the gallery gains fame not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Invariably attracting true connoisseurs of painting, the Art Museum remains truly the heart of the cultural life of Siberia. Novosibirsk can be proud of it.