A new private museum called Zilart is set to open in Moscow on December 2, founded by billionaire couple Andrey and Yelizaveta Molchanov. The museum will showcase their collection of roughly 10,000 works, spanning Russian avant-garde, Soviet nonconformist art, international contemporary art, photography, and African art. Originally conceived in 2015 as a modern art branch of the State Hermitage Museum, the project underwent significant changes: architect Hani Rashid was replaced by Sergei Tchoban in 2021, and the Hermitage withdrew in 2023. The museum is entirely funded by the Molchanovs' LSR Group and receives no state support.
This opening is significant because it occurs amid a repressive climate under President Vladimir Putin, where many private museums have struggled, closed, or seen their owners flee the country due to security raids and sanctions that block Western collaborations. Zilart's launch, with ties to the state through Molchanov's stepfather's connection to Putin, highlights the complex navigation of artistic freedom and political alignment in Russia today. The museum's independence from state funding and its large collection position it as a potentially influential cultural institution, though its ability to operate without political pressure remains to be seen.