Four years ago, SISTEMA GALLERY was a new name on the Moscow art scene—what has changed in that time?
Today, this includes over fifty exhibitions, an established permanent collection, artist workshops, and participation in international fairs. But it seems the most significant change cannot be measured in numbers.
A gallery’s true test arrives not on the opening day, but several years later. It is then that one can determine if the space has become a place artists, collectors, and the art community trust—a destination sought out not just for another exhibition, but for its enduring substance.For its fourth anniversary, SISTEMA GALLERY decided not to narrate its own history through archives or statistics. Instead, the gallery invited artists to look back and revisit their own work. Thus, «Remake» was born—an exhibition where the past serves as a springboard for conversations about the present.Alongside «Remake, ” two solo exhibitions opened at the gallery: Massimo Giotti’s „Beyond the Visible, ” an Italian sculptor, and Misha Burov’s „Icarus in the Age of the Digital Sun, ” a Russian artist, both of which expand the dialogue on contemporary artistic practices.
Exhibition «Remix.» SISTEMA GALLERY
We spoke with Anastasia Volkova, the director of SISTEMA GALLERY, about the changes over the past four years—changes not only within the gallery itself but also in contemporary Russian art.
— Four years ago, you were opening SISTEMA GALLERY almost from scratch. What turned out to be the biggest misconception you had about running a gallery?
Anastasia Volkova:
Honestly, I wouldn’t call it a misconception. Rather, it was a process of adaptation. Before creating the gallery, all my professional experience was tied to the European art market—I studied and worked in France, so I was largely oriented toward that model. However, when we began developing SISTEMA GALLERY in Russia, it quickly became clear that the domestic market operates in a completely different way. If Europe has a mature system with a large number of collectors and established rules of the game, the Russian market is significantly younger and is still forming.This changes the role of the gallery itself. Here, it’s not enough just to represent artists and sell artwork. A huge part of the job involves popularizing contemporary art and shaping a new generation of collectors. Often, I have to guide someone in their first steps—telling them about the artists, explaining the value of the pieces, and introducing them to the professional community. Sometimes, the decision to make a first purchase only comes after several meetings and long conversations. This is precisely why the Russian gallery today operates largely at the intersection of classical gallery activities and art consulting. Perhaps this level of involvement has been the biggest discovery of my recent years.Misha Burov Exhibition: «Icarus in the Age of the Digital Sun.» SISTEMA GALLERY
— Over the years, you have viewed thousands of pieces. Has your understanding of what makes a work truly powerful changed?
Anastasia Volkova: In fact, I viewed thousands of works even before the gallery opened. I still regularly attend major international fairs, the Venice Biennale, and other crucial events on the global art market. Therefore, my understanding of what makes a work of art truly powerful has developed over a long period and has only been strengthened in recent years.At the same time, I am convinced that there is no universal formula for this. It is impossible to evaluate a piece of work in isolation from the artist’s identity, the period of their creative work, the context in which the piece was created, and the idea it conveys. A powerful work is always the convergence of multiple factors: artistic language, professional skill, the relevance of the statement, emotional impact, and its place within the author’s creative biography. This is precisely why even the most outstanding artists have works of varying strength. Art can never be reduced to a set of criteria—it always remains a very personal story.
Massimo Giotti Exhibition: «Beyond the Visible.» SISTEMA GALLERY
— What do you think has changed in Russian artists over the past four years? Do you sense the arrival of a new generation with a different language and different demands?
Anastasia Volkova:
The new generation is always shaped incrementally, and this process is not confined to the arts. But today, we are already seeing artists with a different perspective on their profession and their relationship with the gallery. It is no longer sufficient for contemporary artists for a gallery merely to sell their work. They expect a comprehensive partnership—help in career development, participation in institutional projects, access to international venues, professional guidance, and sometimes just human support. The gallery’s role has become far more multifaceted than it was just a few years ago.Another significant change is the level of education among young artists. Today, the vast majority of artists we work with possess professional art training. Moreover, Russian artists have become much more open to the world. Many independently attend international fairs and biennials, familiarize themselves with the global art agenda, and study new practices. The goal is not to merely follow global trends, but to understand the worldwide art context and find one’s own language within it. I believe this openness is currently one of the strongest assets of the new generation of Russian artists.
Massimo Giotti Exhibition: «Beyond the Visible.» SISTEMA GALLERY
— If in ten years someone is telling the story of SISTEMA GALLERY, what would you want to hear in the opening line?
Anastasia Volkova:
Without undue modesty, I would like to share a very simple phrase: «SISTEMA GALLERY — Russia’s premier international gallery.»The international aspect is fundamental to us. It is important not only to develop the Russian art market but also to ensure that Russian artists are a full and integrated part of the global art scene—consistently participating in major international fairs, museum projects, and becoming recognizable far beyond the country’s borders. If this is how SISTEMA GALLERY is perceived in ten years, it means we have truly achieved the strategy we are building today.
