Dasha Zhukova

Russian art doyenne Dasha Zhukova simultaneously holds the titles of titles of designer, art curator, philanthropist and founder of Garage Magazine. Following Vice’s acquisition of her bi-annual fashion and culture publication, Garage, the prominent fashion figure is gearing up to reach new heights. “[The partnership] allows [Garage] to grow our digital presence in ways that were previously not possible,” Zhukova told BoF in 2016. “It’s a matter of time, resources and know-how.”

She initially pursued pre-med courses and Slavic studies at the University of California, followed by a tenure at the London College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2004. Zhukova’s first foray into fashion was co-founding clothing label Kova & T with friend Christina Tang in 2006, followed by a brief two-year appointment as editor-in-chief of Pop Mmagazine, spearheading her rise to become of the most prominent figures within the global art and fashion communities.

Zhukova founded Garage in 2011. Named after her contemporary arts centre in Moscow, the magazine served as an extension of Zhukova’s cutting-edge take on fashion and culture; and the inaugural edition, featuring a provocative cover and collaborations with artists Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Richard Prince and Paul McCarthy, launched to critical acclaim within the industry.

With subsequent editions featuring contributions from the likes of Juergen Teller and Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Garage has become one of the leading industry publications, fêted by insiders. In 2012, Zhukova also launched Garage Radio to broadcast reviews on fashion shows held during the twice-yearly presentations in New York and Paris.

Well-connected within the both the art and fashion world, Zhukova has played a pivotal role in promoting Moscow as a hub for contemporary art. In 2007, through her non-profit organisation, the IRIS Foundation, Zhukova launched the Garage CenterCentre for Contemporary Culture in Moscow, in the former Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage.

She was a founding partner of the start-up art discovery website "art.sy" where she currently serves as creative director. In recognition of her work in contemporary art, Zhukova was nominated as the recipient of the 2012 Leo Award by the Independent Curators International organisation, with previous recipients of the award including Roy Lichtenstein and Chuck Close.