Mikhail Odnoralov

Mikhail Nikolayevich Odnoralov (born Levidov, ; 10 November 1944 – 22 January 2016) was a Russian nonconformist artist who was well known in Moscow in the 1970s. He spent the second half of his life in New York City.

Biography In 1957, Odnoralov received early art lessons at Robert Falk's private studio, and from 1958 to 1960, he attended art school in Krasnaya Presnya, Moscow.

Odnoralov took part in the second Russian avant-garde movement. However, he was also a member of the USSR Union of Artists and showed his paintings at official exhibitions. From 1966 to 1979, his paintings were frequently exhibited at the Union of Moscow Artists.

His art studio was sometimes a gathering site for underground artists to plan their next collective show or to discuss one another's work,, Moscow, a day before the «First Fall Outdoor Exhibition», September 14, 1974 (Mikhail stands second right). and he was briefly detained for his role in the Bulldozer Exhibition in 1974. A couple weeks after his release, his paintings were displayed before crowdsMikhail Odnoralov (center photo) shows viewers his paintings on «Second Fall Outdoor Art Show» in the Izmaylovsky Park, Moscow. September 29, 1974. in Izmaylovsky Park.«Second Fall Outdoor Art Show», named «Russian Woodstock» for brave step to freedom (see the «TIME»; Monday, Oct. 14, 1974, Vol. 104, Issue 16, p. 76).

The Soviet regime was suspicious of Odnoralov not mainly for the content of his paintings (although the Communist authorities did not like the icons depicted in his works, which clearly reflected Russian religious philosophyIn a recent lecture in front of an American audience Mikhail Odnoralov recalls how impressed him (and even inspired to study Pavel Florensky philosophic works) performances of outstanding pianist Maria Yudina, which Odnoralov lucky was perceived. ), but for his uncensored social activity.«Другое искусство: Москва 1956—1976». Vol 1-2, Moscow, 1991, vol. I — p. 235: photo of Mikhail and his friends Painting exposition in Odnoralov's art studio. The KGB urged his neighbors to file complaints claiming that the guests at his studio disturbed them.

In 1980, Odnoralov emigrated from the USSR. He lived and worked on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He died on 22 January 2016 in New York City.The message of artist's death was left on the Michael Odnoralov' Facebook-page: "Haia asked to let everyone know that Misha has peacefully passed away today at 8pm" January 22, 2016.

Selected exhibitions

May 1961: Summer Theatre, Tarusa, Kaluzhskaya Oblast. Joint exhibition with other Moscow artists such as Igor Vulokh, , Eduard Steinberg and Boris Sveshnikov. 29 September 1974: II Autumn Open-Air Art Exhibition, Izmaylovsky Park.«The New Times» № 9, 2014 March, 24. Lev Rubinstein: "Art those years was a zone of aesthetic and social resistance. After the «Bulldozer Exhibition» 1974, followed outdoor and apartment shows were gathered huge crowds." (in russian) 20–30 September 1975: VDNKh, Culture Pavilion.List of 122 Moscow artists and some photos on Tranzit.org.That Sunny weekend was documented by large count of photos. 1983: "Unofficial Art from the Soviet Union", Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 1987: "Retrospection 1957–1987", State Exhibition Hall Gallery Belyaevo, Moscow. 1988: "Russian Still Life", Museum of Russian Art, Jersey City. 1997: "Alice from the Lower East Side", Lehman College Art Gallery, New York City. Solo exhibition. 2003: "Memories: Russian Postmodern Nostalgia", Yeshiva University Museum, New York City. 5–28 February 2010: "Retrospection", Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Solo exhibition.Odnoralov Returns For «Retrospection» by Alisa Ballard. The Moscow Times, Feb. 18, 2010. 6 June–12 July 2010: Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg. Solo exhibition.Interview apropos Mikhail Odnoralov «Retrospection»: Author the same and (Head of the «Newest movements» department of the State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg). VIDEO, in russian.

Mikhail Odnoralov

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