Zarya

The Zarya Center for Contemporary Art first opened its doors in Vladivostok in 2013, transforming a former Soviet sewing factory, as part of an initiative by entrepreneur and patron Alexander Mechetin. Its mission is to promote contemporary art and culture, providing vital support to artists from the Russian Far East. Over the years, Zarya has showcased outstanding Russian exhibitions to both residents and visitors of Vladivostok, including The Islands of Yuri Sobolev," Architecture: Doomed to Optimism," and "Metageography: Orientalism and Dreams of Robinsons." Zarya has also originated its own exhibition projects, such as"Gosha Ostretsov. Autotrans N.G." "HER," "Badlands," and "Perpetuum Mobile. Russian Kinetic Art." Since the second half of 2014, the center has operated the only Artist-in-Residence program in the Far East, providing artists from various cities and countries with the opportunity to bring their projects to life in Vladivostok. The residency fosters creativity inspired by the region's cultural and natural context. In 2019, Zarya received recognition as the "Institution of the Year" at the Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair.