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LEONID SOKOV (RUSSIAN-AMERICAN 1941-2018) Skywriting Stalin, 1992 oil on canvas 183 x 76.3 cm (72 x 30 in.) signed and dated on side of stretcher lower right PROVENANCE Acquired directly from the artist Roman Tabakman Collection, New Jersey Collection of Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania Private Collection, New York LOT NOTES Leonid Sokov was one of the most influential Russian conceptual and postmodern artists of the late 20th century, renowned for his ironic reinterpretations of Soviet ideology, political icons, and cultural memory. Born in Tver, Russia, in 1941, Sokov graduated from the Moscow School of Art and Industry (Stroganov Institute) and became a leading member of the Sots Art movement - the Soviet counterpart to Western Pop Art - alongside Komar and Melamid. This movement used the language of state propaganda to expose its absurdities, contradictions, and aesthetic power. In Skywriting Stalin, Sokov distills his trademark humor and conceptual clarity into a deceptively simple image. Against a vast expanse of sky, a figure - tiny and resolute - appears to inscribe Stalin’s name in wispy clouds. The scene combines irony with poignancy: the totalitarian image is literally written into, and dissipating within, the boundless atmosphere. Through this minimalist composition, Sokov meditates on the fragility of historical myth, the impermanence of ideology, and the artist’s own role as both witness and subversive chronicler of power. Emigrating to the United States in 1980, Sokov brought his distinctly Russian sensibility to the international stage. His works were exhibited widely, including in the Venice Biennale, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and are held in major institutional and private collections worldwide. At the time of his passing in 2018, Sokov was increasingly recognized as one of the defining figures of 20th-century Russian art, a bridge between Soviet and global contemporary art. His legacy endures in his ability to transform the language of ideology into that of wit, memory, and enduring artistic insight. CONDITION The painting is in good condition, thin tiny scuffing lines lower right, no other visible issues to report. N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.