FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Press contacts: Victoria Brailitsa Bonelli

 

 

The Russian art project to hold its first art auction

in Washington, DC on May 13, 2006

 

      Washington, D.C. - April 18th - In response to the extraordinary interest in Russian Art in the United States, The Russian Art Project will introduce its new initiative and hold its first Auction of Russian paintings and works of art in Washington, D.C. during a two-day event in May. The Russian Art Auction is scheduled for Saturday, May 13th, at the Washington International School, 3100 Macomb Street, NW, from 1PM to 5PM (preview 9:30AM - 11:30AM). A Preview will be held the preceding evening, May 12th at the Guy Mason Center, at 3600 Calvert Street, NW, from 5PM to 9PM with opening remarks and reception from 6:30PM to 7:15PM.  

 

      The auction will offer over 200 lots including works by leading Russian artists such as Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky, Ernst Neizvestny, Otari Shiuk, Igor Galanin, Yuri Yegorov, Igor Kamenev, among others, as well as emerging artists in the contemporary and traditional Russian Art scene.

  

      The Russian Art Project is a Maryland non-profit organization and is a visionary assemblage, initiated by its founder, Boris Foxman, an art collector, financier, and President of the NBAC Corporation of Gaithersburg, MD. The Project goal is “to bring Russian Art to the forefront of the American art scene by continuously exhibiting and auctioning works of Russian artists throughout the United States, to introduce high quality art to local audiences and make its ownership affordable to many”. The Russian Art Project is commissioning works directly from the artist, thus able to present and exhibit quality fine art stateside.  

 

      Mr. Foxman believes that the overall strength and widespread international demand for great Russian works of art have finally reached the Washington market. The Russian Art Project is planning a series of seminars, auctions and art shows to further promote and integrate Russian Art in the nation’s capital. Hoping to imprint its presence in the local community, the Russian Art Project has already implemented a permanent exhibition at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, and sponsored creation of the Russian Composers’ Monument at the Russian Poets Alley at the Guy Mason Center.

 

      Collection Highlights: The Russian Art Project and its inaugural auction will contain the largest selection of Russian art to have been included in an art auction in Washington, D.C. to date. It comprises more than 200 original oils, sculptures and lithographs representing 100 years of native art history, ranging from impressionism and social realism to contemporary expressionism. Three of the sale’s most significant highlights include The Old School House, a captivating oil canvas by the great 19th-century painter Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky (1839-1915), 1910, Orpheus II, a magnificent original bronze sculpture also known as a TEFI Award of the Russian Television Academy by the world-renown artist Ernst Neizvestny, 2002, and Symphony of Flowers, a remarkable oil canvas by one of the premier modern impressionists, Otari Shiuk (1921-1995), 1990. Featured works will also include pieces produced in the last decade by native Russian, Georgian, Ukrainian and Armenian artists, many of which are familiar through international art fairs and important gallery exhibitions, while others will be seen for the first time within this context by the Western audience.  

 

      Project Supporters The Russian Art Project proudly salutes its supporters including the DC Mayor’s Office, the Russian Embassy, the Russian Cultural Center, Carnegie Mellon University Alumni, ArtIndex Publishing House, and the American Association of Russian Language, Culture and Education.  

 

Half of the auction profits will be used to support Capital Area Food Bank, DC Department of Parks and Recreation arts programs, Children of Russia Foundation, Creative Art Studio and Education Center Shalom.  

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE AUCTION

 

AND THE RUSSIAN ART PROJECT INITIATIVE

 

CALL (301) 977 - 4898