Russians have long been associated with the purchasing of art since Catherine the Great laid the foundations for the Hermitage museum in the late 18th Century. More recently, over the past year, auction houses such as Christie’s International and Sotheby’s have established affiliated offices in Moscow. Russia’s continued economic growth is fuelling Russians’ interest in the international art market.

However, Russians still appear unsure of themselves in the market; despite spending vast, record breaking amounts on art, the purchases tend to be ‘safe’ and uninspired. This is despite the fact that Russian contemporary art is alive and fascinating and it is certainly time for Russia to realise its own talents in the modern art world.

Fortunately there exists a place where Contemporary Russian art is thriving.

Located aptly at the House of Artists near the Tretyakov Gallery, Les Oreades is a gallery committed to nurturing talent and showcasing the modern masters of Russian art. Originally founded in France in 1981 and then established in 1990 in Moscow under the auspices of its directors Edmond Rosenfeld and Liliya Slavinskaya, Les Oreades has grown into one of the champions of Russian art today. Its message is clear and simple, requiring unquestionable professionalism from the artists and a high level of culture and uniqueness in their works.

Ranging from neo-symbolist to avant-garde, the work on offer at Les Oreades is varied in its quantity, but not its quality. There is certainly one thing about the gallery that is not abstract. Les Oreades understands that the greatest use for art is in its viewing: “Everything you see here could go on an apartment wall”, Gallery director Liliya Slavinskaya told me.

The gallery also has a commitment to investors, with all works being sure to gain in popularity and value in the future. Many of the gallery’s works are also exclusive to Les Oreades itself, having ‘house’ artists showing interesting work from across Russia.

Experts are on hand to advise and assist in a multitude of languages throughout the purchasing process with a determination to educate and give value rather than simply selling a product. In fact a purchaser’s only real problem is where to put their new work of art.