In the two decades since its establishment, The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) has built a remarkably diverse permanent collection of works, ranging from paintings and sculpture to objects of folk art and cultural artifacts. Beginning with the 2002 donation of seven paintings from the Museum’s founders, the collection has grown rapidly, reaching thirteen thousand items in 2022.
Initially focused on painting, TMORA’s holdings have expanded to reflect the cultural landscapes of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the post-Soviet era. The collection includes Soviet-era posters, nonconformist art from the post-WWII period, post-Soviet contemporary works, holiday ornaments, early 20th-century peasant woodwork crafts, nesting dolls, portraits of an aristocratic Russian family that fled revolutionary Russia, figurines from major Soviet porcelain factories, postage stamps and currency, lacquer boxes, samovars, folk clay toys, and more.
Drawn from across these categories, works from TMORA’s permanent collection are regularly featured in the Museum’s four rotating galleries. These growing holdings have become an increasingly valuable resource for exhibitions, reducing the need for loaned works. Approximately 95% of the collection originates from Russia within its 1991 borders.
The Permanent Collection Gallery rotates selections from the Museum’s holdings each year, offering visitors a changing view into the depth and diversity of TMORA’s collection.
