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Soviet Arts Experience brings more than five exhibitions about the art of the USSR to Chicago this fall.

The Art Institute of Chicago, Block Museum and Smart Museum host shows about 20th-century Soviet posters and more.

By Lauren Weinberg
Published: October 12, 2011

Process and Artistry in the Soviet Vanguard at the Smart Museum of Art: photo gallery
Valentina Kulagina, May 1 USSR (detail), c. 1930s.
Gustav Klucis, Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.
Gustav Klucis, Design for poster Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.
Gustav Klucis, Untitled (Stalin and Lenin Heads) (detail), 1933.
  • Valentina Kulagina, May 1 USSR (detail), c. 1930s.

    Valentina Kulagina, May 1 USSR (detail), c. 1930s.

    Photo: Courtesy of the Ne boltai! Collection342.ar.Process1.jpgValentina Kulagina, May 1 USSR (detail), c. 1930s.149383911
  • Gustav Klucis, Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.

    Gustav Klucis, Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.

    Photo: Courtesy of the Ne boltai! Collection342.ar.Process2.jpgGustav Klucis, Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.149383932
  • Gustav Klucis, Design for poster Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.

    Gustav Klucis, Design for poster Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.

    Photo: Courtesy of the Ne boltai! Collection342.ar.Process3.jpgGustav Klucis, Design for poster Long Live Red Army of workers and peasants – faithful guard of Soviet borders! (detail), 1935.149383953
  • Gustav Klucis, Untitled (Stalin and Lenin Heads) (detail), 1933.

    Gustav Klucis, Untitled (Stalin and Lenin Heads) (detail), 1933.

    Photo: Courtesy of the Ne boltai! Collection342.ar.Process4.jpgGustav Klucis, Untitled (Stalin and Lenin Heads) (detail), 1933.149383974

Valentina Kulagina, May 1 USSR (detail), c. 1930s.

Photo: Courtesy of the Ne boltai! Collection

“Process and Artistry in the Soviet Vanguard”
Smart Museum of Art, through January 22.
What it’s about

Gustav Klutsis and Valentina Kulagina used photomontage to make Stalin look good in posters like Long Live Red Army of Workers and Peasants (1935).
Why you should see it

The innovative Constructivist couple even photographed themselves, dressed up as industrial workers, for use in their posters.
Where to learn more

Curator Kimberly Mims speaks at the Agitation! symposium Friday 14.

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