Dasha Zhukova

She was born in Moscow in 1981. Her father is Alexander Radkin Zhukov, a prominent Russian oligarch, oil-magnate and arms dealer.Her mother is Elena Zhukova, a Russian scientist, and now retired UCLA professor of molecular biology. Her mother is Jewish and her father is Christian; she identifies more closely with her mother's religion.

Her parents split when she was 10 and she moved with her mother to the United States. She lived in Houston, Texas in the early 90's and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Dasha attended a Jewish day-school in California.

She graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara with degrees in Slavic Studies and Literature. She returned to Moscow and later moved to London.

In 2008, Dasha founded the IRIS Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting contemporary culture.

Through IRIS, Zhukova and International Coordinator Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst launched The Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow, which has become a prominent venue for modern and contemporary art. It is housed in one of Russia’s architectural masterpieces, the former Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage, designed in 1926 by the Constructivist architect, Konstanin Melnikov.

Currently, the Garage Center is slated to open a satellite on New Holland Island, the recent purchase of Zhukova’s romantic partner, billionaire Roman Abramovich, In addition to supporting The Garage, the IRIS Foundation allows Dasha to pursue and execute arts projects throughout the world, including an exhibition of Hector Zamora’s Sciame di dirigibili – Venezia, which was featured at the 2009 Venice Biennale. In November 2009, Zhukova chaired MOCA’s 30th Anniversary Gala, which included performances from Lady Gaga and the Bolshoi Ballet.

Zhukova has been involved in a number of business ventures in fashion and design. In 2006, she co-founded the fashion label Kova & T with her childhood friend Christina Tang. She maintains a role in the creative direction of the company, which recently announced a collaboration with Urban Outfitters.

In February 2009, Dasha was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Pop (fashion magazine). She resigned from that position less than two years later in November 2010.

Dasha is a member of the board of trustees of LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art).