Mikhail Odnoralov (10 November 1944–22 January 2016) was a Russian painter and artist, born in Moscow and associated with Expressionism. Active in Moscow’s nonconformist art scene, he also participated in official exhibitions. In 1980 he emigrated from the USSR, spending the later part of his life in New York City.
Key facts
- Born: 1944-11-10
- Place of birth: Moscow
- Died: 2016-01-22
- Place of death: New York City
- Citizenship: Russia
- Occupation: painter; artist
- Movement: Expressionism
How did Odnoralov’s career develop?
Odnoralov received art instruction at Robert Falk’s studio in 1957. He studied at an art school in Moscow’s Krasnaya Presnya district from 1958 to 1960. His paintings appeared at exhibitions of the Union of Moscow Artists between 1966 and 1979.
His position crossed the boundary between official and unofficial art: he belonged to the USSR Union of Artists while taking part in the second Russian avant-garde movement. His Moscow studio also served as a meeting place where underground artists could discuss their work and organise exhibitions.
What connected him to Moscow’s unofficial art scene?
Odnoralov was involved in the 1974 Bulldozer Exhibition and was detained briefly in connection with it. Several weeks after his release, his paintings were shown at the II Autumn Open-Air Art Exhibition in Izmaylovsky Park. The Soviet authorities’ attention to him was linked not only to religious imagery in his paintings, but also to his uncensored activity among artists.
In 1980, Odnoralov left the USSR. He lived and worked on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and continued to exhibit in the United States and Russia.
Where were his works exhibited?
His exhibition history includes joint presentations and solo shows across several decades. Notable entries include:
- 1961: a joint exhibition at the Summer Theatre in Tarusa.
- 1974: the II Autumn Open-Air Art Exhibition in Izmaylovsky Park.
- 1983: Unofficial Art from the Soviet Union in Washington, D.C.
- 1997: the solo exhibition Alice from the Lower East Side at Lehman College Art Gallery in New York City.
- 2010: solo exhibitions titled Retrospection at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.
Other exhibitions included Retrospection 1957–1987 in Moscow in 1987, Russian Still Life in Jersey City in 1988, and Memories: Russian Postmodern Nostalgia in New York in 2003.
Frequently asked questions
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An independent reference profile prepared by intart.org from public biographical records. intart.org is not affiliated with the artist, their estate or their galleries.
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