The beloved sculptor of Putin, Zurab Tsereteli has passed away.

On Tuesday, April 22, news emerged about the death of the monumental artist, sculptor, who created images of imperial Russia, as well as the president of the Russian Academy of Arts, Zurab Tsereteli. He died in Moscow at the age of 92 due to heart failure. This was reported by Russian media, citing the artist's assistant, Sergey Shagalashvili.

«Yes, it happened today at half past one in the morning», - reported Shagalashvili.

Who is Zurab Tsereteli

Zurab Tsereteli is a Soviet, Georgian, and Russian monumental artist, as well as the president of the Russian Academy of Arts. He was born in 1934 in Tbilisi. He is the author of numerous works in painting, graphic arts, sculpture, and monumental decorative arts (frescos, mosaics, panels). He graduated from the painting faculty of the Tbilisi Academy of Arts and worked at the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia. In 1964, he studied in France, where he interacted with prominent artists Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. Since 1997, he has been the president of the Russian Academy of Arts.

Tsereteli's Works

Tsereteli is the author of over 5,000 works, among which are notable:

• The monument «Good triumphs over Evil» in front of the UN building in New York
• The monument «Tear Down the Wall of Distrust» (London, United Kingdom)
• The monument to Pope John Paul II (France)
• The monument «Tear of Sorrow» (2005, New Jersey) - a gift to the American people in memory of the September 11 victims.
• The sculpture «The Three Musketeers» France, Gascony.

Zurab Tsereteli and Ukraine

Tsereteli created a monument to the founders of Kharkiv, which is more commonly known as the «monument to Cossack Kharkov». The sculpture was installed at the beginning of Science Avenue, near the State Industry Building. At one Time, it was gifted to the city by the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Kharkiv.

In 2014, when Tsereteli's name was included in the list of signatories of a letter supporting Putin's policy towards Ukraine, the sculptor's assistant stated that his boss did not sign anything of the sort. «Mr. Tsereteli does not intervene and has never intervened in politics. Never and nowhere. He has never signed any political documents. And he did not sign under this letter. The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation included Zurab Tsereteli in the list of signatories without asking his permission,» quoted Tsereteli's assistant by «Radio Liberty».

On September 20, 2017, Tsereteli was included in the list of individuals creating a threat to the national security of Ukraine.

The death of the famous Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli is noted as a loss for the art world. He was recognized as one of the most influential artists of modern Russia and abroad. He left behind a large number of impressive and significant works, which constitute his multifaceted legacy. Despite some controversies related to Tsereteli's political connections, his artistic abilities and influence on contemporary culture remain undeniable. His death will leave a significant void in the art world.