Soviet women and their art , a new book by R.Lavery & I.Lindsay

This new publication provides a cross-disciplinary examination of early 20th century feminism and gender politics in the Soviet Union in relation to the rise and development of prominent female artists and sculptors. The book covers the period from the end of WWI and pre-Revolutionary Russia to Gorbachev’s perestroika and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It consists of a collection of essays by leading specialists in the field, academics and independent scholars, covering major events in Soviet history, art and culture and exploring the role of women in society, the representation of women in art, and discussing the oeuvre and artistic practices of Soviet female artists.

The book initially examines the emergence of prominent female artists, leaders of the Avant-garde movement in the 1910s-1920s. Following this, a chapter delves into Stalin’s era which saw only a handful of outstanding female artists such as V. Mukhina rising to the top of the cultural artistic elite. Many of the female artists and sculptors were driven into obscurity and mainly worked as stage designers or book illustrators. Then the book focuses on the arrival of Khrushchev’s Thaw which temporarily and partially relieved the oppressive role that the Communist Party played in all domains of life in the Soviet Union and in the creative process in particular. This led to the emergence of Nonconformists, a new wave of artists, and quite a few of them were women.

About the Author

Rena Lavery is an art dealer and an expert on Russian and Soviet paintings. She has edited numerous books on Soviet art (Victor Popkov, Fechin, Masterpieces of Soviet Painting and Sculpture) and has curated numerous exhibitions on Soviet and Russian art around the world.
Ivan Lindsay is an art dealer specialising in European paintings and sculpture. He lectures on art and the art market and has previously written A History of Loot and Stolen Art and Masterpieces of Soviet Painting and Sculpture.

Dr Katia Kapushesky, founder of art consultancy Artkarta.com is an art dealer and top expert in Russian and Soviet Painting and sculpture. She provides consulting services to auction houses, and to corporate and private clients.

Dr Natalia Murray is a visiting lecturer at the Courtauld Institute of Art and has the post of Head of Education and Public Programmes at GRAD (Gallery for Russian Art and Design). In 2017 at the Royal Academy of Arts, she curated a major exhibition ‘Revolution. Russian Art. 1917-1932′

See other publications by the same authors: The Art of the Soviet Union: Landscapes • Still Lifes • Nudes • Portraits