Morus Art Group opens its first London exhibition at Cromwell Place

Morus Art Group, a London cultural initiative founded by Alya Entts, makes its first public appearance in the city on 15 October with Out of the Blue, an exhibition that follows an artistic career through its first phases, from early promise to a first award, guidance from others and the point at which an artist begins working independently. Valeria Gorbova has curated the show, which brings together four artists in two parts. The composer and pianist Kirill Richter will perform with the Richter Trio on the opening evening.

Alya Entts

The first part sets out those phases through three artists connected to Goldsmiths, University of London and to TEARS, the Tracey Emin Artist Residency in Margate. Felix James left Goldsmiths this year with the Neville Burston Award, given at the BA degree show. The prize dates back to 1998 and goes annually to one graduating student whose work is in painting. Olya Avstreyh completed TEARS this year and took its purchase prize, which means one of her works has entered the residency collection. TEARS offers nine painters a funded studio in Margate for 15 months, with places decided by open application. Anush Malkhasyan is partway through a fine art degree at Goldsmiths and represents an earlier point in the same journey, before institutional recognition has fully formed.

The second part develops the same theme through a dialogue with Igor Baskakov, an Italy-based artist whose practice combines popular imagery with traditional painting. Morus Art Group has commissioned him to make a new group of works for the show, dedicated to influential figures of twentieth-century art and culture.

Igor Baskakov Vivienne Westwood, 2026 Acrylic on canvas 120 × 80 cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Morus Art Group.

Morus Art Group brings together collecting, patronage, artist support, advisory work and cultural production, and works with artists whose practices develop across different countries and languages. The launch formalises it as a platform and will introduce a longer programme of exhibitions, collaborations, publishing and private cultural formats. "I believe that private initiatives today can achieve what was once the domain of major institutions," says Entts, "bringing forgotten names back into view, discovering new artists, and connecting artists and audiences across borders."

Out of the Blue is open to the public on 16-17 October 2026 at The Lavery, Pavilion Gallery, First Floor, 4 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2JE. Discover more at morusartgroup.co.uk