On 16 October, the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Arts opened the exhibition «Stitched and Embroidered: Traditional Folk Embroidery and Contemporary Art.» Featuring over 300 pieces—from 18th-century samples to works by modern artists and designers—the exhibition showcases the evolving language of one of Russia’s most ancient crafts and explores why embroidery is once again capturing the spotlight.

Embroidery has existed in Russia for centuries as both a part of everyday life and an art form. It adorned clothing and interiors, with distinct techniques, patterns, and artistic traditions evolving in different regions—from the Russian North and Karelia to the Volga region and Central Russia. Today, artists, fashion designers, and interior designers are revisiting this language, reinterpreting traditional motifs within the context of contemporary culture.

The exhibition is structured as a journey through several eras. In the historical section, peasant embroidery featuring geometric and floral patterns, animal images, and human figures will be displayed, executed in various techniques including running stitch, satin stitch, and tambour stitch. The display will reveal how the same type of craft evolved differently in the north, south, and centre of the country. Traditional ornamentation gradually extends beyond folk costumes. Its evolution can be traced through the Neo-Russian style and the Talashkino workshops, the avant-garde—particularly the works of Olga Rozanova and the Verbovka Artel, the Soviet «grand style» with large-scale exhibition panels, and the applied arts of the Thaw period. A separate section will be dedicated to the work of the Scientific Research Institute of Artistic Industry, including materials from expeditions to embroidery centres, sketches, samples, and developments for folk crafts. The final part brings this conversation into the present. Against the backdrop of a renewed interest in manual labour, artisanal techniques, and mythological themes, embroidery is once again becoming a full-fledged tool of contemporary art. Artists are using familiar motifs and techniques not merely as historical references, but as material for new expressions.

The exhibition will be complemented by an educational programme and a creative laboratory. «Stitched & Embroidered» will run until 31 January 2027.