Despite Putin's repressive regime, a new private museum opens in Moscow

"At a time when many Russian private museums are struggling for survival and some have been forced to close, a billionaire couple from St. Petersburg have nonetheless founded a new one, scheduled to open in Moscow on 2 December. Called Zilart, the museum was conceived to show the collection of its founders, Andrey and Yelizaveta Molchanov. The owner of the St. Petersburg property developer LSR, Andrey Molchanov, 54, was a member of the Federation Council, Russia's upper chamber of parliament, from 2008 to 2013."

"In an email, the museum's press office tells The Art Newspaper that the collection "brings together Russian avant-garde, Soviet nonconformist art, Russian and international contemporary art" as well as "masters of Russian and international photography, furniture in the Russian style of the early 20th century, decorative and applied arts, and many other areas". The collection includes works by Vik Muniz, Tony Matelli, Helmut Newton, Mike Kelley, Stephan Balkenhol and Ron Arad."

"The Molchanovs also own more than 1,000 works of African art ranging from bronze and terracotta sculptures from Nigeria and the Kingdom of Benin to kifwebe masks of the Songye and Luba peoples of the Congo River basin-a collection they bought from Mikhail Zvyagin, a New York-based artist who was born in St. Petersburg. As President Vladimir Putin has tightened his grip on power and"

Zilart, opening in Moscow on 2 December, was founded by Andrey and Yelizaveta Molchanov to exhibit their private collection. Andrey Molchanov, 54, owner of St. Petersburg developer LSR, served in the Federation Council from 2008 to 2013 and has state connections. The collection includes Russian avant-garde, Soviet nonconformist and Russian and international contemporary art, photography, early 20th-century Russian-style furniture, and decorative arts. Holdings include works by Vik Muniz, Helmut Newton and others, plus more than 1,000 African art pieces acquired from Mikhail Zvyagin. The museum opens as private museums face tightening political control, raids, harassment and limited Western collaborations.

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