Mikhail Kulakov Retrospective at MMOMA Explores Soviet Non-Conformist Art

The Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA) is showcasing 'Mikhail Kulakov. The Style of the Thaw Period,' a retrospective dedicated to Russian abstract expressionist Mikhail Kulakov (1933–2015), which will be on display until June 9, 2019, at MMOMA Petrovka. Kulakov, who produced unofficial art during the Khrushchev Thaw, left Moscow in 1959 following a controversial exhibition. He studied scenography in Leningrad under the guidance of Nikolai Akimov and drew inspiration from Jackson Pollock. In 1976, he relocated to Rome with Maria Pia Masella, gaining support from critics and fellow artists. Although he took part in the 1977 Venice Biennale, he remained distanced from the art market. This exhibition seeks to highlight the overlooked artists of the Thaw period, featuring footage that illustrates Kulakov's dynamic technique.