From Lenin to Putin: Russian leaders in contemporary art (PICS)

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.

1. Vladimir Lenin

For more photos from the “Lenin for the Soul” series, see here.

2. Joseph Stalin

3. Nikita Khrushchev

4. Leonid Brezhnev

5. Mikhail Gorbachev

6. Boris Yeltsin

7. Vladimir Putin