Cosmoscow Talks 2025. Golden Collection. Collectors: Stories of Giddy Success

One of the noticeable trends in Russian contemporary art is the growing interest in private collectors, due to the unconditional influence that these passionate people have on the art system. Marking the emerging trend, the Cosmoscow Foundation has initiated and continues to support and implement a variety of initiatives related to private collecting: from the Collector’s Eye project and individual stands at the fair to the Collector of the Year Award established together with BORK.

Many leading Russian institutions have contributed to the public presentation of the figure of the collector, including the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, the Street Art Museum, the New Collectors Foundation, and many others. The Biennale of Private Collections held by the New Collectors Foundation this year is notable for its wide geography and detailed discussion program. 

Private collecting is an integral part of the art market and a form of support for institutions and individual artists, while collectors themselves are the new stars of the art scene and the most welcome guests at any cultural event. Their success stories and — metaphorically speaking — “golden collections” are role models that we want to both share and critically reflect on, which we intend to do at events within the Cosmoscow Talks educational program.