On June 23, at the branch of the State Tretyakov Gallery in Samara was opened the exhibition KARTINA MIRA featuring works by finalists in the eponymous International Competition for Young Artists. The exhibition marked the finale of the second season of the project, designed to discover and support new talent in art.
The exhibition displays works by 15 finalists from 11 countries:
Russia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, Vietnam, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Cameroon. A total of 1,631 works from 56 countries were submitted to the competition. The young artists shared their vision of cultural memory, national identity, family traditions, and intergenerational connections, using art as a universal language.
A distinctive section of the exhibition is taken by special nomination "Inspired by Russian," established to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the State Tretyakov Gallery. It highlights the influence of the Russian artistic school and Russia’s cultural heritage on contemporary art worldwide.
"The most important thing is that in addition to the search for new names, the exhibition KARTINA MIRA represents what is truly modern art. A large number of authors took part in the competition, and there were many laureates. In the year of its 170th anniversary, it is a great honor for the Tretyakov Gallery to see the birth of new names in a global context. The winner of the special nomination for the anniversary of the State Tretyakov Gallery was the artist from Vietnam Cao Dai Luong. It is important for us to see that the Russian avant-garde inspires artists around the world and remains modern," noted Olga Galaktionova, General Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery, co-chairman of the competition’s Creative Council.
Cao Dai Luong from Vietnam presented his own interpretation of Russian culture in a global context. In his work, he turned to images associated with the art of classical ballet, and depicted dancers at the barre in the style of the Russian avant-garde.
"In my homeland, Vietnam, we studied Russian culture, admired ballet, tried to understand the Russian avant-garde. Of course, the works of such authors as Malevich, Kandinsky and Tatlin influenced the whole world, including me. Therefore, it is especially valuable that my work is presented at the branch of the Tretyakov Gallery," said the competition participant.
The exhibition is distinguished by the absence of division into countries, regions or artistic movements
The exhibition space is organized as a continuous dialogue of cultures, where personal stories and national traditions intertwine, revealing universal themes close to every viewer. The exhibition presents works made in various techniques, including painting, graphics and digital art.
"The exhibition is small, but very meaningful — it showcases artists working in different countries: Africa, Asia, and Russia. This diversity is the essence of art. We tried to be as objective as possible, highlighting professionalism, the ability to think and reflect. Some artists turned out to be very talented; they have great potential. For them, the opportunity to exhibit at the Tretyakov Gallery is a dream come true — it means access to a wider audience and being part of a prestigious brand," said Semyon Mikhailovsky, Rector of St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts and co-chairman of the competition’s Creative Council.
The final exhibition of the first season of the International Competition for Young Artists KARTINA MIRA was held at the Tretyakov Gallery branch in Kaliningrad in 2025. It was visited by over 50,000 people. This year, the Samara branch of the Tretyakov Gallery hosted the final exhibition of the second season of the competition.
"The Tretyakov Gallery in Samara strives not only to present masterpieces of national art but also to actively support young artists, creating a space for professional dialogue. The exhibition KARTINA MIRA fits perfectly with this mission, facilitating cultural exchange between artists from around the world," emphasized Mikhail Savchenko, director of the branch.
The opening ceremony was attended by key figures of the project:
- Olga Galaktionova, General Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery;
- Semyon Mikhailovsky, Rector of St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts;
- Mikhail Savchenko, Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery branch in Samara.
The competition winners were awarded diplomas, medals, and money certificates.
In his welcoming address, Sergei Novikov, Chief of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects and co-chairman of the competition’s Creative Council, stated:
In his welcoming address, Sergei Novikov, Chief of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects and co-chairman of the competition’s Creative Council, stated:
"Today, Russia confidently emerges as a key point of attraction for the global artistic community — a country of boundless opportunity for young talent, open to the search for new names and bold creative ideas. In a short time, KARTINA MIRA has become not just a platform for creative expression, but a large-scale space for international artistic dialogue."
The project was initiated by Innopraktika Company in partnership with the State Tretyakov Gallery and St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts.
"The KARTINA MIRA competition is being held for the second time, and each year we receive more and more applications. This demonstrates its importance for promoting young artists, as this was the main goal of the competition’s initiator, Innopraktika Company. And I can’t help but note that it’s especially gratifying to see last year’s Innopraktika School graduate, Colombian artist Angie Vega, among the winners," noted Aleksey Lebedev, Executive Secretary of the competition’s Creative Council and curator of Innopraktika School.
