The sculpture was disassembled into 65 crates for shipment to Paris in 1937 and reassembled in only 11 days.
The stainless steel plates are only 0.5 millimeters thick, held together by an internal steel frame.
The statue was designated as the official emblem of the Mosfilm studio in 1947.
Vera Mukhina studied the anatomy of athletes to ensure the figures looked physically capable and energetic.
The original design intended for the figures to be nude, but this was rejected by the Soviet commissioning committee.
The pedestal contains a museum dedicated to the history of the 1937 World's Fair and Soviet architecture.
The work is constructed from chrome-nickel stainless steel, a material rarely used for large-scale outdoor sculptures at the time.
The Worker and Kolkhoz Woman is a monumental stainless steel sculpture measuring 24.5 meters in height, originally created for the 1937 Paris International Exposition. Designed by sculptor Vera Mukhina and architect Boris Iofan, the piece serves as the centerpiece of a modern exhibition center located at the base of the pedestal. The base replicates the original 1937 pavilion design, housing multi-level gallery spaces for contemporary art and historical exhibitions. The statue depicts a male worker holding a hammer and a female collective farmer holding a sickle, representing the union of the Soviet working class. Following a major reconstruction completed in 2009, the structure was raised to its current height to improve its architectural proportionality. It remains a prime example of Socialist Realism, characterized by dynamic motion and the forward-leaning posture of its figures. The complex functions under the management of the Moscow Manege museum association.
From the park paths directly in front of the base to capture the full scale of the figures against the sky.
Check the official website for current exhibition themes before arriving, as they change frequently.
Walk around the perimeter of the base to view the historical photo archives displayed on the walls.
Take the elevator to the upper observation levels for a unique perspective on the surrounding northern district architecture.
Do not mistake the nearby VDNKh monument entrance for the museum entrance, as the museum is located inside the base of the sculpture itself.
Closed on Mondays.
