This Museum In Somerville Is One Gigantic Piece Of Artwork

The Museum of Modern Renaissance in Somerville, MA was once a Unitarian church built in 1909. While it still serves as a place of spirituality and quiet reflection, it has been completely transformed into a kaleidoscope of art and color.

The museum became the home of Russian artists, Nicholas Shaplyko and Ekaterina Sorokina in 2002. The building still retains its original windows and a few pieces of furniture, but everything else has been completely tranformed through the couple's shared artistic vision.

In 2005, Nicholas and Ekaterina began opening up their home to the public as the Museum of Modern Renaissance. Every square inch of the interior and exterior are covered in vibrant murals of flowers, stars, planets, mystical beings and architecture from their Russian homeland.

The artists compare the museum's vision and purpose to the Italian Renaissance:

"The first Renaissance brought beauty and humanity back to society, and we think it’s time to do it again."

In addition to its artistic impact, The Museum of Modern Renaissance is also the place where Paramahansa Yogananda first introduced the philosophy of yoga to the United States in 1920.

The artists feel a connection between their work and the practice of yoga. In fact, Ekaterina does yoga to help heal and strengthen her body from the stress of bending and twisting to paint the upper walls and ceilings of the museum. 

 According to their website:

"Nicholas Shaplyko and Ekaterina Sorokin now preserve this place of historic importance and express their Self Realization through art. They created the Museum of Modern Renaissance and dedicated it to helping people of all races and creeds to realize and express more fully in their lives the beauty, nobility, and divinity of the human spirit."

The museum is located at 115 College Avenue Somerville, MA. Visit during open studio hours or schedule a group tour.