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The exhibition of Erzya Mordovian Museum of Fine Arts is based on the works of Mordovian artists Fedot Sychkov and Ivan Makarov, as well as the sculptor Stepan Erzya.
Stepan Dmitrievich's real surname is Nefyodov, and he adopted the pseudonym Erzya in honor of one of the Mordovian ethnic groups.
The famous sculptor, sometimes called the Russian Rodin, traveled extensively around the country and the world, emigrated in 1926, lived in Paris, and then for almost a quarter of a century in Argentina. In 1950, he returned to his homeland, brought his best works and donated them to the people. He died in 1959 in Moscow. A tombstone by S.T. Konenkov was installed on his grave in Saransk. The Mordovian Museum of Arts houses the largest collection of his sculptures, with over 200 works.
In front of the museum, there is a monument to Stepan Erzya and works by local sculptors. One of them, the Fox Bridge with a fox figure on the railing, has also become a landmark of the city.
Currently, the museum's collection includes over 15 000 items.
Russian art, contemporary domestic art, decorative and applied art, and the art of Mordovian artists – the best works are on permanent exhibitions.
Among the numerous archaeological finds that reveal the unique character of the culture of the peoples of Mordovia, the works of ancient jewelers deserve special attention.
All exhibitions are equipped with touch-sensitive information panels with a bilingual navigation system and audio guides. The museum is deservedly popular among residents of Saransk and the entire republic, as well as among visitors to the region. Every year, more than 60 000 visitors come to the museum.
