About Cosmoscow / 2025

The 13th edition of the international contemporary art fair Cosmoscow (@cosmoscowfair) took place in Moscow. For me, this event has long been a must-visit, and, true to tradition, I didn’t limit myself to a single visit — I went both to the preview and to the closing day, to witness how the space and perception transform.

A particularly significant moment was the recognition of the art group PROMVYZA as Artist of the Year. Following this, and for the first time in the history of Russia’s leading contemporary art fair, photography (!) acquired the status of a central artwork. The realization of this striking fact only came to me during my second visit: our precious medium — for so long pushed to the periphery of art, especially in terms of collecting — is finally gaining official recognition on par with more traditional forms. The materialization of this turning point was made possible by the Fotolab laboratory (@pro.fotolab).

No less important was the institution of the Collector of the Year award, established by the Cosmoscow Foundation in collaboration with the Bork brand. This step demonstrates not only a commitment to supporting the art industry but also a recognition of private initiatives as full-fledged participants in the cultural process. This year’s laureate was Natalia Opaleva, whose collection includes 3,500 works — ranging from the “Sixtiers” to contemporary authors. At the center of the first floor was a booth telling the story of how her collection was formed — from the first acquisitions to the creation of infrastructure supporting art. Among the works on display, I spotted a favorite piece by Natalia Turnova, which I had first seen at the MAMM exhibition.

And finally, the numbers: over the course of four days, the fair welcomed 55,000 visitors — a record in its 15-year history. This year, 97 galleries participated, with 100 gallery booths and 20 partner booths. Interestingly, some changed their displays up to three times, which points to both strong interest and genuine purchasing power. In terms of organization and professional scope, the fair continues to affirm its position as a significant player in the global art industry. That said, I genuinely liked no more than about 20 works of art.

It will be interesting to see what awaits us next year.