Dasha Zhukova has plans for art-focused apartment communities


Dasha Zhukova has spent her life supporting art — and now she is hoping that life will imitate art.

“Being around thoughtfully curated art enhances your mood, it lowers depression,” she told me. “There are actual therapeutic benefits.”

🎬 Get Free Netflix Logins

Claim your free working Netflix accounts for streaming in HD! Limited slots available for active users only.

  • No subscription required
  • Works on mobile, PC & smart TV
  • Updated login details daily
🎁 Get Netflix Login Now

Zhukova — who is on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and Gagosian Gallery, and founded Moscow’s Garage Museum of Contemporary Art — has a passion for paintings, sculptures and immersive installations that is far more than just a sophisticated hobby or interest in collecting a pricey asset.

Dasha Zhukova is on the board of Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and Gagosian Gallery and founded Moscow’s Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com/Shutterstock

And that effusiveness is the impetus for Ray, the real-estate development company she hopes will combat loneliness, foster creativity and make art a central part of residents’ lives.

“This is about integrating culture and architecture into our everyday life in a way that fosters community and belonging,” Zhukova, 44, tells me of Ray, which builds out multi-family residential buildings featuring artist studios, exhibition spaces and collections of original art by emerging and renowned talents.

“The community and the connection piece is so important… we’re trying to really create a singular shared experience around the arts,” Zhukova said.“There’s a growing loneliness epidemic, especially among young people. One of our goals at Ray is to be a place where people can gather … where they can share experiences.”

Dasha Zhukova tells NYNext of her vision for Ray: “This is about integrating culture and architecture into our everyday life in a way that fosters community and belonging.” Neil Rasmus/BFA.com/Shutterstock

To date, Ray (and, by extension, Zhukova) has put up most of the equity for its projects. But as the portfolio grows and starts to stabilize, she may bring in outside investors. Zhukova also purchases or commissions most of the art works and loans them to the buildings.

The company, based in New York, often partners with local developers — like LMXD in Harlem, where Ray opened to residents last month — to secure financing, draw architectural plans and oversee permits and construction.

The designs are “a little more bold and daring than other multi-family builders,” Zhukova said, and she stays “hands-on with programming long after we open so as to ensure that our vision continues to add value over time.”

Ray Harlem expanded on the previous site of the National Black Theater and built it out with multi-family residences. Courtesy of Ray

Programming at Ray Harlem, which will include gallery exhibitions and artist tutorials, starts later this summer. At Ray Philly, which opened in 2023, the offerings include collage-making and ceramic workshops as well as solo exhibitions for local artists in its gallery space, Studio 105, that is open to the public. “Raúl Romero: Sound Check,” is on view now.

The latter — Ray’s first project — opened two years ago in Philadelphia’s South Kensington neighborhood, a once industrial area that has seen a vibrant arts scene emerge over the last few years. The building features Rashid Johnson’s installations in the lobby and five ground-floor commercial studios that artists and small businesses can lease, as well as one space devoted to an artist-in-residency program.

One-quarter of Ray’s units are devoted to affordable housing, while the remaining apartments go for market price. Courtesy of Ray

Ray’s Harlem location was developed in partnership with National Black Theatre (NBT), which owns 27,000 square feet of space in the building for its theater and offices and displays its African art collection throughout Ray.

Rental prices are pretty standard for a new development in New York City — studios are $2,700 per month and two bedrooms go for $4,800 — and a quarter of the units are considered affordable housing.


This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC’s power players (and those who aspire to be).


Ray’s spaces are designed to encourage community as well as enjoyment of art, and include libraries and space for art classes. Courtesy of Ray
Communal spaces feature creative works by artists who are often local to the area. Courtesy of Ray

While Zhukova hopes artists will live there, tenants are also from professions including medicine and law

A new location is set to open in Phoenix next year, while one in Nashville is under excavation with a target launch of 2027.

Zhukova and her husband, shipping heir Stavros Niarchos, live in Manhattan with their three children. She also has a son and daughter with her ex, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. (Her mother, Yelena, is the wife of Rupert Murdoch, the Chairman Emeritus of Post parent company News Corp.)

Zhukova was joined by architect Frida Escobedeo (left) and Sade Lythcott (right), CEO of the National Black Theatre, at a topping-out ceremony for Ray Harlem. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Launching Ray has been an all-consuming project, she said. But she is optimistic it will impact people’s lives in a meaningful way — and even compared Ray to a museum you can live in.

“There are many ways to be creative with space,” Zhukova added, “and I think a residential building can absolutely be that.”

Send NYNext a tip: NYNextLydia@NYPost.com




Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Adblock Detected

  • Please deactivate your VPN or ad-blocking software to continue