Gino Sinigaglia (1937−1997) was more than an artist; he was a symbol of an unbroken cultural link.

Born in the heart of Moscow to an Italian anti-fascist hero, Alessandro Sinigaglia, and a Russian beauty, Polina Polyakova, Gino was destined for a unique fate.

He never met his father, who fought and died in the Italian Resistance, but he inherited his rebellious spirit.

Trained in the classical traditions at the famous Stroganov Academy, Sinigaglia quickly realized that the "straitjacket" of Socialist Realism was not for him. His creative quest led him to the roots of Russian Modernism—to the coloristic power of Konstantin Korovin and the virtuoso lightness of Arthur Fonvizin. From them, he learned the most important lesson: art is freedom.

This inner freedom made him a central figure in the Moscow underground. He was a close friend and associate of the legendary Anatoly Zverev; they were united not only by a love for an expressive manner but also by a refusal to compromise with the system. His spirit of protest was embodied in his participation in the famous "Bulldozer Exhibition" (1974)—an event where authorities literally used bulldozers to destroy avant-garde works. It was a challenge Sinigaglia threw down until the very end.

His credo: "My law is unchanging — do not repeat yourself, seek a new perspective, make a note sound." He created over 35 exhibitions in his lifetime, yet died in poverty and obscurity, remaining true to his principle of never working as the Soviet government demanded.

Today, the legacy of Gino Sinigaglia is not merely a collection of paintings. It is a living testament to an era, a bridge between two cultures, and a challenge to us, his contemporaries, to reclaim the name of an artist who paid the ultimate price for his freedom.