VDNH academic-painting exhibition draws 35,000 visitors in first month

The Art of the Stage: Academic Painting exhibition in VDNH Pavilion No. 1 drew 35,000 visitors in its first month, Channel Five reported, citing Moscow authorities. VDNH’s official website also reports attendance above 30,000.

The exhibition in the Central Pavilion brings together about 200 works, including paintings, graphic art, sculpture and stage costumes. Artists represented include Ilya Repin, Karl Bryullov, Orest Kiprensky and Vasily Surikov.

It opened on September 10, 2026. Official VDNH information gives January 17, 2027 as its closing date. The project explores connections between visual art and theatre.

The pavilion continues an exhibition programme developed following renovation from 2024 onwards. An earlier exhibition of Russian art from the 20th and 21st centuries was organised by the Tretyakov Gallery. Channel Five puts its attendance at roughly 120,000.

Another project displayed Images of Moscow in Russian Art from the State Russian Museum’s collection. The current attendance figure concerns the first month of the new exhibition rather than the pavilion’s entire programme.