In 1935–1936 Soviet authors Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov spent four months in the United States of America. Having crossed the country from ocean to ocean by car, back in the USSR they co-wrote Little Golden America — the travel notes that some American journalists of the time praised as the most insightful book on their homeland.

Travelling across America, Ilya Ilf sent home daily letters, postcards and telegrams. When he returned, he brought back a lot of souvenirs, as well as many letters and telegrams he had received during his trip from his wife Marusya. After his death, Ilya Ilf’s unique archive documenting the authors’ road-trip was preserved by his daughter Aleksandra Ilf.

At the exhibition Ilya Ilf’s American archive was shown to the public for the first time.

Moscow Museum of Modern Art and Mikhail Bulgakov Museum present Little Golden America: Based on a True Story. The exhibition devoted to Ilya Ilf’s and Evgeny Petrov’s travels will contain unique documents, letters, postcards, photographs and objects.

Created by: Roma Liberov

museum: Moscow Museum of Modern Art

area: 600 m2
exhibits: 400 pcs

types of exhibits: graphics, books, photography, video

exhibition architecture

photo by Roma Liberov