Joseph Backstein passes away

Soviet and Russian art historian, art critic, curator and culturologist Joseph Backstein passed away on January 12, 2024, at the age of 78, following a long illness; he was a member of the Academic Board of the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center.

Joseph Backstein was born in Moscow in 1945. In 1985, he received his degree of Candidate of Philosophical Sciences after completing his postgraduate studies at the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1988, he organized the first exhibition of the Club of Avant-Garde Artists and went on to curate numerous important shows of Russian art. He was the founder of the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, many editions of which he also oversaw as the commissioner and artistic director. Joseph Backstein curated major exhibitions such as «Nothing But Footnotes? Art in the Age of Social Darwinism (Federation Tower, Moscow, Russia, 2007), Yoko Ono. Odyssey of a Cockroach (TsUM Department Store, Moscow, Russia, 2007) and Practice for Everyday Life: Young Artists from Russia (Calvert 22, London, UK, 2011).

Our museum would like to offer our sincere condolences to Joseph Backstein’s family and friends.