A Celebration of the Books of Vladimir Radunsky
For over thirty years, Vladimir Radunsky (1954–2018) created books that appealed to audiences young and old with a combination of creativity and wit. This exhibition features illustrations for four of his books that demonstrate the incredible breadth of his talents: his self-authored The Mighty Asparagus, a reimagining of a Russian folktale; the renowned poet Joseph Brodsky’s ode to America, Discovery; acclaimed dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov’s life-affirming tale Because . . . ; and his final collaboration with two-time Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka, Mother Goose of Pudding Lane.
The Zimmerli celebrates the recent acquisition of illustrations for two of these books through the generous support of the Avenir Foundation Endowment Fund. They have a welcome home at the museum, where they enrich and complement our existing collection of illustrations for children’s literature, as well as the Riabov Russian Collection and the Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of Nonconformist Art from the Soviet Union.
Organized by Nicole Simpson, Assistant Curator of Prints and Drawings, and Julia Tulovsky, Curator of Russian and Soviet Nonconformist Art
This exhibition is made possible by the Avenir Foundation Endowment Fund. Special thanks to Eugenia Radunsky and Chris Raschka.
In memory of famed Russian book illustrator and artist Vladimir Radunsky (1954–2018), a panel of writers, translators, and scholars presents readings (in the original and in translation) from and converse about the legacy of early 20th-century Russian children's books and illustrations, as well as their connection to the present. The conversation is moderated by translator and editor Matvei Yankelevich, and followed by a Q&A with the audience. Event was held at the Zimmerli Art Museum on February 22, 2020.