Lenin, Stalin, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, Yeltsin and even Putin are not just historical figures, but visual reference points whose images are firmly rooted in popular culture. For an overview of how contemporary artists portray Soviet and Russian heads of state, read on.
V. Komar and A. Melamid. Lenin Hails a Cab in New York, from the series 'Nostalgic Socialist realism', 1993
Komar & Melamid
Alexander Kosolapov. Coca-Cola, 1983.
vladey
Mayana Nasybullova. Rubber Duck Lenin, 2017
vladeyFor more photos from the “Lenin for the Soul” series, see here.
V. Komar and A. Melamid. Yalta Conference, 1982
Komar & Melamid
Leonid Sokov. Stalin and Marilyn, 1990
A U.S. private collection
Leonid Sokov. Khrushchev, 1983
Zimmerli Art Museum
Alexander Kutovoy. Sputnik, 2016
Denis Esakov
Dmitri Vrubel. My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love, 1990
German Federal Archives
Eric Bulatov. Brezhnev. Soviet Space, 1977
The Museum of Avant-Garde Mastery, MAGMA
Vladislav Mamyshev-Monroe. Gorbachev as an Indian Woman, 1989
Vladislav Mamyshev-Monroe
Alexander Kosolapov. Gorbachev (triptych), 1990
vladey
Alexander Vinogradov, Vladimir Dubossarsky. Triumph. Yeltsin and Lebed, 1996
dubossarskyvinogradov.ru
Dagnini. “I’m done” from the series “Windows”, 2018
Fragment gallery
Alexander Kosolapov. Mona Lisa, 2020
Press photo
Alexey Sergienko. “President. Kind-Hearted Man” series, 2012
Alexey SergienkoIf using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.
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