Culver City's Wende Museum Receives 2 Cold War-Era Paintings

CULVER CITY, CA — The Wende Museum of the Cold War added two Russian paintings from the Cold War-era to its collection thanks to a donation from its board member.

The two oil paintings, The Asylum, 1982 by Stanislav Molodykh (born 1942) and At the Station (1950) by Ilya Abelevich Lukomsky (1906-1954), was donated by Abby J. and Alan D. Levy. Alan Levy is a board member of the museum and the chairman of Tishman International Companies.

"We are excited to be part of The Wende Museum, an innovative new cultural institution that will bring a unique and impactful era to light in our community," the Levys said in a statement.

The paintings are said to be major additions to museum's collection of official and unofficial artwork from Cold War-era Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

"This strategic gift will further strengthen the collection," Wende executive director Justinian Jampol said. "It is a wonderful addition to the museum's holdings as we prepare to move to our new home in the former National Guard Armory in downtown Culver City."

Molodykh's unusual subject matter recalls a difficult time in his life when he entered a psychiatric hospital. Lukomsky, a famous graduate of the Moscow Surikov Institute, was a member of the Union of Artists in Russia. He was known for his group portraits and depictions of people in real-life situations.

Photo courtesy of the Wende Museum