Who Owns the Copyright to Castings of Ernst Neizvestny’s Sculptures

Copyright (including the right to reproduction, replication, casting of bronze copies, etc.) lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years after their death. After the death of Ernst Iosifovich, the exclusive right passes to the heirs (by will or by law). They decide who is allowed to make new castings, sales, or exhibitions. The heirs control the molds, matrices, and rights to castings.

New castings made from the author’s molds after the master’s death without their permission are considered a violation (counterfeit or fake). Authorized castings during the master’s lifetime were usually limited to a small edition (often 8–12 copies plus a few artist’s proofs).

After death — only with the consent of the heirs. They may transfer rights to foundries or galleries by contract. The fact that molds remain in a workshop or with specific individuals does not automatically grant the right to produce further editions without permission from the rights holders.

The main heirs of Ernst Neizvestny are two women:

– Anna Graham (Anna Graham) — the sculptor’s widow (second wife; from the 1990s she was his manager and translator). She lives in the USA and is the most actively involved in managing the legacy.

– Olga Neizvestny (Olga Neizvestny, b. 1958) — the only daughter from his first marriage to the ceramic artist Dina Mukhina. She lives in Moscow and is an artist herself.

Ernst Neizvestny did not leave a valid will (the original reportedly burned), so under U.S. law the estate is divided between the widow and the daughter. A court dispute between them took place in New York in 2017–2019 over artworks, the studio, the house, and the sculpture park on Long Island. There is no exact public information on the final outcome of the dispute in open sources, but Anna Graham has continued to act as the key custodian and manager of the legacy.

Anna Graham actively promotes the legacy: in 2025 she announced plans to open the Ernst Neizvestny Museum in Moscow together with philanthropist Ivan Tyryshkin. There is also the “Encyclopedia of Ernst Neizvestny,” linked to her archive.

A Private Charitable Foundation of Ernst Neizvestny previously existed but has been liquidated. There is currently no information about a specialized organization or foundation that centrally manages copyright for castings and editions.

For questions regarding copyright, new castings, or official permissions, one should usually contact Anna Graham (as the person who was the sculptor’s manager for many years) or her representatives. Olga also holds rights as an heir, so ideally the consent of both parties is required.