[1][2] The Museum was founded by prominent art collectors Raymond and Susan Johnson, owners of the largest collection of Russian Realist paintings outside the borders of the former Soviet Union.

The museum shows 8-10 exhibitions per year, and hosts over 50 annual events ranging from notable lecturers to classical concerts to theatrical readings.

It commenced exhibition activities open to the public in 2002, initially in loaned space in a corporate office park located in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The renovated gallery space has been host to over 70 exhibitions from Masterpieces of Soviet Era Painting,[7] to historical topics like World War I[8] and the Siege of Leningrad[9] and Russian art forms such as Faberge,[10] Lacquer Boxes, Nesting Dolls,[11] and Ornaments.

[15] In addition to its exhibition calendar, TMORA hosts a variety of events throughout the year including concerts, lectures, theater, dance, artist talks, and book clubs.