Russian Icon Collection

06/02/2026

Oleg Kushnirskiy, co-founder of Fine Art Shippers, had the pleasure of attending the NYC presentation of Mihail Chemiakin’s book, My Life: Before Exile.
As a gesture of appreciation, Oleg gifted the artist our Russian Icons catalog, and we were incredibly honored to receive a beautiful copy of Chemiakin's new release in return.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to connect with Mihail Chemiakin and have the utmost respect for his unique vision and remarkable contribution to the art world.

#михаилшемякин #шемякин

05/28/2026

Old Believer icons dedicated to John the Baptist often depict the flight of Elizabeth and the Infant John into the desert within one of the border scenes. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, fled persecution ordered by King Herod and sought refuge in the wilderness with her son until the beginning of his evangelical mission in Israel. According to biblical tradition, John spent his early years in the harsh desert environment, living a life of spiritual endurance and asceticism. He wore rough garments and survived on locusts and wild honey. His father, Zechariah, suffered martyrdom after refusing to reveal the family’s hiding place, ultimately sacrificing his life to protect Elizabeth and John.

05/27/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our book, Russian Icons: The Oleg Kushnirskiy Collection, is now part of The New York Public Library!

This is a huge milestone for our project. Being included in one of the world’s largest libraries not only recognizes years of hard research but also helps share the rich history of Russian icon painting with a global audience.

Want to explore this incredible heritage at home? You can purchase a personal copy of the catalog, autographed by the collector, directly on our website: https://russianicon.com/russian-icon-book-eng/

05/21/2026

The exhibition "Icons: Old Believers and Their World" is in full swing.
Next Friday, May 29, The Icon Museum and Study Center is hosting Founder's Day.
It's a great occasion to visit the museum for free on its 20th anniversary and see its collection and exhibitions.
We are also happy to share a teaser of a long movie about this collaborative exhibition.
Stay tuned for more, and don't forget to visit the IMSC on May 29!

05/20/2026

The scene of the Elevation of the Holy Cross is a major Christian feast celebrated on September 14. It carries profound symbolic meaning within the Orthodox Christian tradition, serving as a reminder of Jesus Christ’s victory over death. The discovery of the cross on which Christ was crucified is traditionally dated to the 4th century AD, when Saint Helena traveled to Golgotha and uncovered the sacred relic. Later, the cross was taken by the Persians during their military conquests, but it was ultimately recovered in 629 AD and returned to Jerusalem. In Orthodox iconography, the elevation of the cross above the gathered crowd is frequently depicted as a symbol of triumph over sin, a call to faithful discipleship, and the promise of salvation.

05/13/2026

The Orthodox feast of Candlemas commemorates the Presentation of the infant Jesus Christ at the Temple and the Virgin Mary’s ritual purification forty days after childbirth. The event is described in Luke 2:22–40, where Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem in accordance with Jewish law. There, they meet the prophetess Anna and the righteous Simeon, who recognizes Christ as the “light for revelation to the Gentiles.”

Candlemas marks the conclusion of the Christmas–Epiphany cycle and symbolizes the spiritual transition toward the Easter season in the Orthodox tradition. The feast is also widely known as the Meeting of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

05/11/2026

The exhibition, "Icons: Old Believers and Their World", which is currently on view at The Icon Museum and Study Center, was featured in the Boston Globe earlier this spring. We are excited to share this news with you!

There will be a guided tour of the exhibition later this week, on 14 May. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

04/22/2026

We are excited to see our exhibition, "Icons: Old Believers and Their World," featured on RTVI.US!

A huge thank you to Svetlana Vais for this deep dive into the history of the Oleg Kushnirskiy Collection and the unique legacy of The Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton, MA.

Read the full feature to explore the journey of these dazzling icons from private devotion to the museum gallery:
https://rtvi.us/opinions/sakralnoe-prostranstvo-uezdnogo-goroda-v-massachusetse-mozhno-uvidet-russkie-staroobryadcheskie-ikony/

В уездном городе Клинтон Массачусетской губернии в Музее и исследовательском центре икон проходит выставка старообрядческих икон из коллекции Олега Кушнирского....

04/21/2026

We are so proud to see the Oleg Kushnirskiy Collection alongside the treasures of The Icon Museum and Study Center in our collaborative exhibition, Icons: Old Believers and Their World.
Each icon in this room is a testament to a tradition that survived against all odds.
If you haven’t visited us in Clinton yet, you have until August 30 to immerse yourself in this captivating world. Trust us, the details are even more dazzling in person.

04/15/2026

The icon of the The Martyr Charalambos of Magnesia, with 10 Hagiographical Border Scenes and the Royal Deesis (First third of the 19th century Palekh) is now on view at The Icon Museum and Study Center as part of the "Icons: Old Believers and Their World" collaborative exhibition. We're looking forward to welcoming everyone at this incredible museum in Clinton, MA!

The scene depicting Saint Charalambos preaching the Christian faith represents a traditional iconographic subject centered on the saint’s missionary activity. Venerated in the Orthodox Church, Charalambos—identified as a priest of Magnesia—is associated with exceptional longevity and steadfast devotion, having, according to tradition, continued his ministry despite severe persecution.

Born in the 2nd century AD in a region strongly opposed to Christianity, Saint Charalambos devoted his life to spreading the faith, converting many, and strengthening belief in God among his followers. His image endures as a symbol of unwavering faith, resilience in the face of suffering, and the transformative power of Christian devotion.