Previous Exhibitions

MOCA, in conjunction with Virginia Celebrates Russia, was proud to present a solo-exhibition featuring works by renowned illustrator Mikhail Magaril. Magaril is a professional book artist and illustrator with a degree from the Moscow Printing Institute. His books are in important collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the British Museum, the French National Library, Harvard and Yale. He was an apprentice at The Center for Book Arts for seven years and the winner of two Carl Hertzog Awards for Excellence in Book Design.

In MOCA’s exhibition, Mikhail Magaril: Russian Roulette, the artist displays paintings, prints and sculptural works from his private collection. Born in Leningrad, USSR, Magaril’s work explores the twists-and-turns of Russian culture with satirical commentary frequently referencing Vladimir Lenin and Josef Stalin, two chief leaders of Communism. The exhibition was accompanied by a full-color catalogue with essay by Ragan Cole-Cunningham (McManus), MOCA’s Director of Exhibitions and Education, and Austin Jersild, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of History and International Studies at Old Dominion University.

Read more in the exhibition didactic panel, gallery guide or catalogue.