Lectures and Exhibitions

“He had no formal education in art history. Meanwhile, his passionate love for artists and the avant-garde was immediately transmitted like an infection to the audience. He was a wonderful speaker. Using slides or originals from his collection, he spoke simply, but with such a feeling as if he himself had witnessed the creation of masterpieces. " (from the book by Peter Roberts "George Costakis. Russian Life in Art").

By the 1970s, George Costakis had gained worldwide fame as the owner of a unique collection. Michael Haltzer, a professor at New York's Hamilton College, invited Costakis to give several lectures in America. Costakis took this proposal as a utopian dream. However, he soon received his tickets and a schedule of lectures. The tour took place in the fall of 1973 and included performances at several of America's largest universities and museums: Costakis was also welcomed at the National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa) and the Fisher Gallery in London. Everywhere he went his lectures were a huge success.

In the beinning of 1970ies, Costakis also received invitations to show his collection in major Western museums. These exhibition projects were realised only after he left the USSR. In the same year, when the family left Moscow (1978), an exhibition in Dusseldorf "The Art of the Avant-Garde in Russia" took place. The most ambitious project was the one that took place in New York - “Russian avant-garde.The George Costakis Collection ”at the Solomon Guggenheim Museum (1981). From 1982 to 1989, dozens of exhibitions were held in Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Finland. Just before the death of the collector an exhibition took place in Canada (Ottawa and Montreal).