Avant-garde Architecture of the Soviet Era: Photography by William Brumfield

In this exhibition, TMORA presents photography by William Brumfield, a renowned scholar of Russian architecture and an indefatigable photographer who created a remarkable visual archive of images to share with the American public and the world.  Compiled in numerous publications, his work is also preserved in the Library of Congress and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Over a period of five decades, William Brumfield was engaged in a serious study of avant-garde architecture in Moscow and other cities. Soviet architectural avant-garde is a major contribution to the treasure trove of world architecture. It showcases an exploration of new architectural forms for a new Soviet society, undertaken in the 1920s and 1930s. The geography of the exhibition is vast, covering the European part of Russia, the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. TMORA expresses its sincere gratitude to William Brumfield for his immense contribution to the preservation of Russian cultural heritage and for his participation in this exhibition.

To learn directly from the photographer himself, watch the virtual program Utopian Quest: Photographing Soviet Avant-garde Architecture, Virtual Program with William Brumfield

Avant-garde Architecture of the Soviet Era: Photography by William Brumfield is on view in the Mezzanine Gallery June 14 – October 12, 2025