The building was designed by the architectural firm Haxby & Bissell and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The institution was founded in 2002 by Raymond and Susan Johnson, who began collecting Soviet Realist art during the late Cold War era.
Many pieces in the collection were acquired from artists or their families in Russia immediately following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
The gallery spaces utilize the former sanctuary's unique acoustics and vertical volume to display large-scale socialist realist murals.
The museum store is one of the largest purveyors of authentic Russian handicrafts in the Upper Midwest.
The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) is the only museum in North America dedicated exclusively to the study and presentation of Russian art. It is housed within a repurposed historic 1935 Spanish Colonial Revival church, originally built for the Mayflower Community Congregational Church. The permanent collection encompasses a broad spectrum of works, ranging from 19th-century oil paintings to Soviet-era realism and contemporary folk crafts. The architecture features distinctive arched windows, exposed timber trusses, and stained glass that define the interior gallery space. The museum frequently rotates its exhibitions to highlight specific themes, such as the lives of the Russian peasantry or avant-garde movements. It serves as a cultural hub, hosting lectures, concerts, and educational programs on Eastern European history. The facility includes a museum store specializing in traditional Russian lacquer boxes, nesting dolls, and regional textiles.
The main gallery, where the interplay of light through the historic Spanish Revival windows illuminates the large-scale oil paintings.
Check the official website exhibition calendar before visiting to see if a specific era or medium is currently being featured.
Take time to read the placards in the folk art section, as they provide critical context on the regional differences in craft traditions.
Visit the museum store last, as it features high-quality imports not typically found in standard gift shops.
Do not rush through the exhibits; the significance of the art is largely found in the historical narratives provided in the detailed wall texts.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
