Russian American Cultural Center (RACC) presents "Iconography: Ten Portraits", an exhibition of new works by Dmitry Borshch. Last year RACC presented "Iconography", a broader series that includes portraits of Donald Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Vladimir Putin. The upcoming exhibition is a narrower series whose title, "Ten Portraits", is borrowed from Andy Warhol's "Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century" (first exhibited in 1980). It includes such notable members of the Jewish community as Elie Wiesel, Henry Kissinger, Bernard Lewis, Robert Aumann. "Unlike Warhol, who based his silkscreens on archival photographs, I met all the subjects of my portraits, Wiesel years before starting to draw his. They are not silkscreened and there are more than ten, " says Borshch. "I rotate them: six years ago at the Consulate General of Russia in New York a portrait of Joseph Brodsky was exhibited; in this iteration of "Ten Portraits" Naum Korzhavin replaced him. I hope my series will provide what Richard Meyer in the book "Warhol's Jews" calls "a sense of cultural affirmation and ethnic / religious pride" to its audiences. It may even serve as a "gateway" to deeper engagement with the subjects' histories and achievements."

Dr. Regina Khidekel curated this exhibition, which will open at RACC's new satellite space on May 27, Henry Kissinger’s birthday – his portrait will be highlighted there – and close on June 30. "Iconography: Ten Portraits" is supported by funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Russian American Cultural Center (520 East 76th Street, Suite 7E New York, NY 10021) aims to provide permanent cultural representation to more than 700,000 Russian-speaking residents of New York. It was founded in 1998 by Dr. Regina Khidekel and earned its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in 1999. RACC has adopted and broadened the strategy of organizations like No Longer Empty (http://www.nolongerempty.org/) which invigorate neighborhoods by mounting exhibitions in their unutilized or temporarily underutilized spaces. Visitors coalesce around a space where art may never have been exhibited before.

Regina Khidekel received her PhD from St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts, became the director of that city's Diaghilev Art Center in 1990, and in 1998 the founding director of the Russian American Cultural Center in New York. She is the author of "It's the Real Thing" (1999, University of Minnesota Press), and has contributed essays to the following publications: "Lyubov Popova" (1994), "Lazar Khidekel: Suprematism and Architecture" (1995), "Sterligov Group: Paintings from Russia" (1995), "Russian Constructivist Roots: Present Concerns" (1997), "Forbidden Art" (1998), "Lev Meshberg" (1999), "Tamar Hirschl" (2000), "In Malevich's Circle" (2000), "A Life of Colors" (2001), "Surviving Suprematism" (2004), "Family Album. Artists from St. Petersburg" (2006), "Anna Rochegova" (2008), "Homage to Diaghilev's Enduring Legacy" (2009), "Trajectory of Suprematism" (2011), "Floating Worlds and Future Cities: Lazar Khidekel, Suprematism and Russian Avant-garde" (2013), "Building Drawings and Drawing Buildings" (2014), "Lazar Khidekel and Suprematism" (2014). She has lectured at many universities and curated many exhibitions.

Dmitry Borshch was born in Dnepropetrovsk, studied in Moscow, today lives in New York. His drawings and sculptures have been exhibited at the National Arts Club (New York), Brecht Forum (New York), Exit Art (New York), CUNY Graduate Center (New York), Salmagundi Club (New York), ISE Cultural Foundation (New York), Williamsburg Art and Historical Center (New York), Triangle Arts Association (New York), Parish Art Museum (Southampton), International Human Rights Law Institute of DePaul University (Chicago), the State Russian Museum (Saint Petersburg), Central Exhibition Hall "Manege" (Saint Petersburg), Frieze Art Fair (London).

http://www.russianamericanculture.com/galleries/emerging-artists/dmitry-borshch/

"Iconography: Ten Portraits"
105 NY-110, Melville, NY 11747

May 27, 11 am – June 30, 7 pm
Wednesday – Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm, free admission

Please write to racc.ny@mail.ru or call (347) 662 1456
The artist is available for interviews.