Masterpieces of art in the Moscow Metro (PHOTOS)
The capital's subway is one of the most beautiful in the world. It’s a true treasure trove of diverse works of art. Mosaics, sculptures, stained glass and even chandeliers – everything is unique and special. We’ve selected the very best for you below.
Patriotic mosaics at ‘Komsomolskaya’ station
‘Komsomolskaya’ on the ‘Koltsevaya’ ‘(Circle’ or Brown) line is one of the most beautiful stations. And this is no accident: It welcomes those arriving in the capital from as many as three major railway stations located above it.
The station's arches are adorned with mosaic panels depicting scenes from Russian history, based on sketches by artist Pavel Korin.
Stained glass at ‘Trubnaya’ station
It is often said that newer stations are less beautiful than those opened during the Soviet era. But, take a look at these modern stained-glass windows depicting Russian cities! Twelve of them were created by famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli.
Sculptures at ‘Ploshchad Revolyutsii’ station
The Moscow Metro has its own superstitions. For example, Muscovites believe that rubbing the bronze nose of the dog at ‘Ploshchad Revolyutsii’ station brings good luck.
In addition to the legendary bronze dog and its guard, the station features 76 (!) sculptures by Matvey Manizer, dedicated to the main heroes of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution: workers, peasants, soldiers, athletes, sailors and others. By the way, there’s a legend that Stalin particularly liked these statues, believing they looked very realistic.
Smalt panels at ‘Mayakovskaya’ station
This station's vestibule was decorated in 1938 with mosaics by famous socialist realist artist Alexander Deineka. The series of 34 panels is titled ‘A Day in the Soviet Sky’ and depicts what one might see when looking up at the sky: for example, airplanes and parachutists.
Stained glass at ‘Novoslobodskaya’ station
The semi-vaults of this station are adorned with glowing mosaics made of colored glass. The stained-glass windows were created based on sketches by artist Pavel Korin and depict representatives of various professions, such as scientists, artists, musicians, which are framed by whimsical plants and stars.
Majolica at ‘VDNKh’ station
A huge panel in the style of Russian Gzhel is dedicated to fairground festivities. In the background, the outlines of the Moscow Kremlin and the city’s main cathedrals are visible. The authors were Gzhel specialists Margarita Podgornaya and Alexander Tsaregorodtsev and they created this work in 1997, in honor of Moscow's 850th anniversary.
Bas-reliefs at ‘Dobryninskaya’ station
This station is decorated with intricately crafted bas-reliefs featuring allegorical depictions of the Soviet republics. For example, this is how the Byelorussian and Armenian SSRs are represented in the imagination of the author, Soviet artist Elena Yanson-Manizer.
Chandeliers at ‘Prospekt Mira’ station
Even the light fixtures in the Moscow Metro are works of art and it’s difficult to find two stations with identical chandeliers. At ‘Prospekt Mira’ on the Circle line, the lamp shades resemble ears of wheat and are adorned with floral patterns.
Giant fish at ‘Nagatinsky Zaton’ station
This station opened on the newly opened ‘Bolshaya Koltevaya’ (‘Big Circle line’) in 2023 and leads to the Nagatinskaya Floodplain, which offers a picturesque view of the Moscow River. Therefore, the vestibule is decorated with huge mosaic panels depicting fish, made of natural stone and smalt by Maxim Kozlov.
Northern panels at ‘Belomorskaya’ station
Outlines of the Valaam Monastery, the Kizhi Pogost and interpretations of the Northern Lights – such large-scale mosaics by Maxim Kozlov also adorn ‘Belomorskaya’ station, whose name references the Russian North and the White Sea.
