The Museum of Russian Art, Minneapolis

Nobody heads to Minnesota expecting to stumble upon a world-class collection of 20th-century Russian art, yet that’s exactly what awaits at The Museum of Russian Art. Housed in a beautifully repurposed church in a quiet South Minneapolis neighborhood, it owes its existence to one man: local businessman and avid art collector Ray Johnson.

Back in the late 1980s, as “glasnost” cracked open the iron curtain, Johnson began scouring Soviet attics, rural homes, and artists’ studios, uncovering works that revealed a rarely seen side of Russian art. While most Westerners are familiar with names like Kandinsky and bold propaganda posters, Soviet realism took a different tack-creating works meant to resonate with everyday people. Scenes of villages, fields, forests, and other cultural touchstones were painted with an eye for both realism and affection. The museum’s gallery, though small, is bathed in ideal lighting and features a charming mezzanine that adds to the intimate atmosphere.

The museum gift shop, meanwhile, feels like a curated bazaar straight out of Eastern Europe. Hand-painted Matryoshka dolls, sought-after amber jewelry from Baltic shores, religious icons, Russian chocolates, and cooking staples fill the shelves. Moreover, come holiday time, the shop becomes a wonderland of ornaments, carved Santas, festive linens, and more-a perfect place to pick up something truly unique.