Igor Markin entered the business sector in 1993, serving as the co-owner and president of Proplex until 2016. This group of companies specialized in the industrial production of window profiles. Alongside his corporate career in Russia, he established himself as an art collector and museum founder, significantly influencing the contemporary Russian art landscape over three decades.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1967 in Moscow, Markin pursued higher education at the Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics. Following his graduation, he was employed at the Radio Research Institute. In 1993, he shifted his focus toward private enterprise, co-founding and leading Proplex, an organization that manufactured window profiles for the domestic market for twenty-three years.
Founding ART4 Museum
Markin began collecting art in 1997, initially acquiring works by Yakovlev and Zverev. In 2007, he opened the ART4.RU Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow to house his growing collection. The institution maintained an unconventional approach to exhibition, occasionally allowing visitors to play mini-golf or engage with interactive elements like stickers for voting on works. Following an economic downturn in 2009, the museum reduced its operating hours to a single day per week before shifting to an annual visitation schedule.
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In December 2015, the museum rebranded with a commercial model under the slogan 'A museum that sells art,' making prices visible on every displayed piece. By June 2016, the organization launched an online auction platform for Russian contemporary works. Markin eventually closed the ART4 Museum space on June 29, 2024, after eight years of varied exhibitions. He continued his professional involvement in the art world by co-founding the ART4 Gallery in London with artist Liza Bobkova in 2023.
Collection Scope
The collection managed by Markin spans approximately 1,500 works by over 250 authors. It features significant representation of the second wave of the Russian avant-garde, including artists like Eduard Steinberg and Dmitry Plavinsky. The inventory also includes works by Moscow Conceptualists such as Ilya Kabakov, Sots Art figures, and New Artists such as Timur Novikov. Additionally, the collection incorporates contemporary pieces from younger creators including Evgeny Antufiev and Irina Korina.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Moscow
- Citizenship: Russia
- Education: Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics
- Proplex tenure: 1993-2016
- Art collection size: 1,500 works
- Number of children: 5
Questions readers ask
What was the professional focus of Proplex?
Proplex was a group of companies that engaged in the production of window profiles.
When did the ART4 Museum close?
The ART4 Museum ceased operations on June 29, 2024.
Did Markin sell art through his museum?
Yes, starting in December 2015, the museum adopted a model where all exhibited works were available for purchase with prices openly displayed.
Achievements
- Educated at Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics
