The museum was founded in 2001 and initially specialized in exhibiting Russian paintings from the late 20th century and the Soviet period. In addition, the museum organizes exhibitions of icons, lacquer miniatures, amber jewelry, national costumes, embroidery, and textiles. Its collection also includes paintings from the 19th century, which is a rarity for the USA.

In an interview with the magazine "Tretyakov Gallery," the director of the Russian Art Museum, Raymond Johnson, noted: "According to my estimates, our museum has been visited by more than 25,000 people. Additionally, tens of thousands of people have seen our exhibitions that took place at other venues across the USA. About 5% of visitors are students, teachers, or researchers who already had a scholarly interest in our unique collection of paintings. Another 5% are probably the first or second generation of emigrants from Russia who want to refresh their memories of their homeland. The majority consists of Americans from all ethnic and racial groups who seek to learn more about life in Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Our museum serves as both a multifunctional exhibition space and an educational resource. We conduct cycles of lectures and seminars on various topics related to the history of Russian art, led by both Russian and American specialists."