Ernst Neizvestny (1925-2016) was a Russian artist.
In 1942 he volunteered in the Red Army and was severely wounded in combat during World War II. He was so badly wounded that he was actually pronounced dead and was awarded a posthumous medal, although he ended up surviving. After the war, in 1947, Neizvestny attended the Art Academy of Latvia and later the Surikov Art Institute. In 1976, tired of the artistic persecution he was enduring in the USSR, he emigrated to America and settled in New York City, where he further established his career and name as a prominent figure in the expressionist movement. Neizvestny worked in many mediums including painting, sculpture, and graphic design. His most famous works are his sculptures, which usually reflect the human body in a distorted, yet majestically beautiful form. His work is mythological, combining the body with the spirit and offering a unique perception of the first Russian avant-garde movement. Neizvestny passed away on August 9th, 2016.