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5d ago

Zurab Tsereteli, Sculptor of Monumental Works, Dies at 91

The Georgian-Russian artist, known for his colossal and controversial sculptures, passed away from cardiac arrest on April 22, 2025.

FILE - Georgian and Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli speaks at the opening of a series of busts of Soviet leaders that he created in Moscow, Russia, on Sept. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
FILE - Georgian and Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli poses during the opening ceremony of the 41st Moscow International Film Festival in Moscow, Russia, on April 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
Russian sculptor and President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Tsereteli attends a ceremony at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia, March 9, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
Zurab Tsereteli populated the Russian capital with his distinct brand of monumental architecture

Overview

  • Zurab Tsereteli, a Georgian-born artist celebrated for his massive and divisive public sculptures, died at the age of 91 due to cardiac arrest.
  • Tsereteli gained prominence in the Soviet Union during the 1960s and 1970s, known for his monumental projects and ties to political leaders.
  • Among his most notable works are Moscow’s 98-meter Peter the Great statue and the Tear of Grief 9/11 memorial in New Jersey.
  • He served as president of the Russian Academy of Arts and founded the Moscow Museum of Modern Art in 1999, remaining active in both roles until his death.
  • Critics often debated the scale and aesthetics of his works, with supporters praising his ambition and detractors questioning their fit within urban landscapes.