Shades of Red: the Evolution of Early Soviet Painting May 6, 2011

'The Evolution of Early Soviet Painting' brings together 56 works by Soviet artists painted during the decades immediately following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Avoiding traditional generalizations about Soviet art, the exhibition explains the dynamic art scene of post-revolutionary Russia. Avant-garde representations of socialist labor, highly polished academic portraits, and colorful portrayals of minority ethnic groups reflect the multidirectional development of Soviet art under both Lenin and Stalin. The exhibition provides a glimpse into the complicated careers of Soviet artists navigating the troubled seas of post-revolutionary Russia.