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Art & Antiques | March 2006
Russian Recognition
Minneapolis—After devoting 15 years to amassing an extensive collection of Russian art from the Soviet period, Raymond E. Johnson, founder of The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) in Minneapolis, was given the Order of Friendship Award January 19 by Ambassador of the Russian Federation Yuri V. Ushakov. Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin made the announcement last November, praising Johnson for his work in "developing Russian-American cultural partnership and strengthening friendships between the people."
Johnson and his his wife Susan possess what is considered to be the largest privately owned collection of 20th–century Russian realist paintings outside the former Soviet Union; they also have been featured on Art & Antiques' 100 Top Collectors list. Johnson says he's "worked to try to dismantle some of the stereotypes of Russian art from the second half of the 20th century." To that end, he has made 50 to 60 trips to Russia and employs art historians and art analysts to assist him in monitoring the Russian art market and finding new artists. For more information, call 612.821.9045.
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