Nicholas Shaplyko and Ekaterina Sorokina have transformed their Somerville home into a temple to art and their own spiritual vision. The building is both their residence and the site of the Museum of Modern Renaissance, a fantastical place that blurs the line between home and art movement. The couple seeks to use their fantastic home to educate the public about a new art and spiritual movement they have dubbed the “Modern Renaissance.”
This colorful building is both a residence and the site of the Museum of Modern Renaissance, a bizarre place that blurs the line between home and art movement. The couple seeks to use their fantastic home to educate the public about a new art and spiritual movement they have dubbed the “Modern Renaissance.”
Read on to learn more about this slightly odd, colorful home. For more odd sights in Massachusetts, check out our list of weird roadside attractions across the state.
The museum is actually a converted Masonic lodge. You’ll definitely recognize it when you see it.
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The jewel of the home is the immense Great Hall. The walls are completely covered in fresco-like paintings of icons from Russian mythology and religion.
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The paintings include images of tigers, flowers, birds, bull totems, druid sand mermaids.
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The colors are so bright and saturated that the panels almost look like a series of stained glass windows.
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Even the bathroom is covered in intricately painted artwork.
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Throughout the home, fairytale landscapes and mythological creatures cover almost every inch of exposed wall.
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The museum states that the colorful geometric designs “may be the key to many secrets of existence.”
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Though the building is not open for daily tours, the museum hosts plenty of art and music events throughout the year that will give you a chance to view the incredible interior.
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The owners are seeking to gain UNESCO protected status for their home. There are only 23 UNESCO sites in the United States, and none of them are (yet) in Massachusetts.
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The Museum of Modern Renaissance can be found at 115 College Avenue, Somerville.
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Please be respectful of the fact that this is a home as well as an artistic site. The owners have been known to offer guided tours, but please reach out to them on their website here rather than knocking on the front door.
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