Monumental Art & Statues of Lenin in Bishkek (+ Coordinates)

Are you interested in visiting Lenin statues in Bishkek on your trip? Or seeing other types of monumental art throughout the Kyrgyz capital? In this guide, I list an array of places you can see Lenin busts, statues, mosaics, and other forms of monumental art in Bishkek.

Let me preface this by saying that I don’t particularly care what happens to these statues of Lenin in Bishkek. If the country wants them up, great. If the country wants them down, also great. It is not for me to decide as a non-citizen from a place where I was adamant about Civil War statues coming down in my hometown.

I do, on the other hand, appreciate beautiful mosaics and monumental art from Central Asian artists that depict scenes of Central Asian culture and history. Lenin does not. So while I want the cultural monumental art to remain, I have no opinion about the other stuff.

However, I know a lot of people want to see it, and I will always share it online for people to see if they want to check it out… hence this guide!

Below, you will find some places to see Lenin in Bishkek. I have spent almost a year in the city over the years, and while I have seen a lot of it, there is a lot more to see outside of the center.

If you have any places I didn’t list in this guide, please share them for future travelers in the comments. Please also let me know if you have sculptor or artist information for any that I didn’t share (as I couldn’t find it). There is also a free map you can save at the bottom of the guide. Thanks!

Monumental Art & Statues of Lenin in Bishkek

1. 1950s Lenin Sgraffito on a Residential Building

Location: 42.8581, 74.61697

I can’t believe this was the first time I had ever seen this sgraffito in Bishkek, as I used to walk down this street quite a bit back in the day. I randomly saw it from a taxi on this trip and marked the spot to revisit once I was out of the car.

This monumental art on this residential building is located on Zhukeyeva-Pudovkina Street, but the actual address is Kulatova 8/1.

When you are facing the building (on Zhukeyeva-Pudovkina), you can see a variety of art on both sides of it. On the left side is a large ‘1950’ graffiti, and underneath it is a man outlined, and then below that is another artwork with buildings in front of mountains.

On the other side of the building is another outline of a man and above that is a small sgraffito of Lenin alongside a globe and a rocketship. I have never seen this posted anywhere online and even after researching quite a bit, I can’t find any information about the artist.

2. Lenin Bust at the Usta Factory

Location: 42.88307, 74.55557

This bust of Lenin can be found at the Usta Factory in the western part of Bishkek along Fuchik Street.

There is not much to say about it except that it is behind a fence (I think you could walk up to it if you wanted, but it was a workday and crowded, so I didn’t bother).

3. Lenin Statue at Industrial Site (Former Stadium?)

Location: 42.8705, 74.55817

All I can say about this Lenin statue in Bishkek is that someone really wants it up. The entire area around it has been torn apart. But that Lenin statue still stands.

Anyway, based on old photos, I think this used to be a stadium area or the entrance to it. There is a gate to get inside and I saw one other person mention that they couldn’t access the statue as the gate was shut.

I went on a weekday and when I arrived, the gate was shut. But a few minutes after, it opened slightly and I went inside, only to be greeted by three men. I told them I wanted to take a photo of the statue and they were nice and fine with it.

Once you exit the gate, try going a short distance to the left. There is a hammer and sickle mosaic there (kind of an ugly one based on photos), but it was hidden behind a makeshift trash area when I went, so I couldn’t see it. It is worth seeing if that is still there (42.86972, 74.55747).

4. Lenin Statue behind the State History Museum

Location: 42.87856, 74.6039

This is easily the most viewed and accessible Bishkek Lenin statue. Situated behind the iconic State History Museum (these days), it was erected in the main square in 1984 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic. In 2003, it was moved to where you can view it now.

The park it is located in (and its surroundings) are well-manicured and a nice place to hang out on hot summer days because of all the trees. Walking through it is a must for every Bishkek itinerary.

5. Lenin Statue at Bishkek-2 Railway Station

Location: 42.86378, 74.60454

This has to be the ugliest Lenin statue out there. It kind of reminds me of the old Cristiano Ronaldo statue at the Madeira Airport (before they replaced it).

Anyway, this Lenin statue is located at Bishkek-2 railway station in the center of the city. It used to be silver, but someone decided to repaint it gold and it looks pretty comical.

If you stand outside the railway station facing it, you can only see the back of it as it is on the other side of the gate and on the platform. It will be to the right of the entrance. You can not access it without asking the security guard to do so.

The man working security allowed me to pass through, but was very strict as it took me to the train platform and I didn’t have a ticket. I just explained what I was doing and he was fine, but he kept an eye on me the entire time, so I was quick and left.

6. “Lenin is With Us” Mosaic

Location: 42.87366, 74.57441

In 2013, I was walking around Bishkek with my friend (she is a local) and she knew I wanted to see some Soviet-era mosaics. She then took me to this Lenin mosaic on the corner of Toktogul and Gvardiya. It was hidden behind trees and somewhat overgrown; different than what you see there today!

I took some photos of it and put them online, and everyone asked me where this was for years on my blog, Facebook, and Reddit forums. I had to spend over a day sourcing the location of it (this was before online maps were used as much as they are today), and it was so hard for me to do back in those days.

Fast forward all these years later and this location has been fixed up, a nice park surrounds it, and it is no longer hidden. And it is one of the most popular mosaics to visit in Bishkek. And you can simply type in ‘Lenin mosaic’ on a Bishkek map and find its exact location with ease. My, how times have changed! Anyway, I listed the coordinates just in case you need them.

The “Lenin is with Us” mosaic was designed by Lydia Ilina in 1978 and depicts Lenin alongside important jobs in society (a soldier, students, a scientist, etc).

7. Small Lenin Relief on Frunze Street

Location: 42.88173, 74.59155

I have no idea what this building is for, but I have always enjoyed passing it because of the snow leopard in front of a rock in front of the building (total sucker for snow leopard stuff).

This sculpture was put together by NABU (a conservation group focused on endangered animals), and when I search for more info about the building specifically, it gives me no more information than that it is part of a research institute owned by the Academy of Sciences. I have never seen anyone on the premises.

Anyway, there is a small Lenin relief at the top of the building in the center. I don’t even know if the relief knows it exists because it is that small. It is three heads: one of Karl Marx, one of Frederick Engels, and one of Lenin (far right). It is located at Frunze Street 533 (in between Manas and Isanov Streets).

8. Lenin Memorial at Jibek Jolu and Erkindik

Location: 42.88452, 74.60764

This is a small Lenin memorial in the center of Jibek Jolu, where it meets Erkindik Avenue. The memorial is quite large, but Lenin’s face is pretty small.

I have been passing this since 2013 (my first trip to Bishkek) and have no idea when it was put up or who designed it.

9. Lenin Statue at the Polytechnic University

Location: 42.84468, 74.5873

Across from the Manas Cinema in the southern part of Bishkek is the Razzakov Polytechnic University… and a statue of Vladimir Lenin.

It is kind of hidden on the campus grounds so you can use the exact coordinates I gave to locate it. But it is out front.

When you are looking at the university (assuming your back is to Chyngyza Aytmatova Street), you will need to walk forward past the Razzakov statue and take a right. There is a small walkway built around Lenin, but you can easily see it from that angle.

This is a campus and there are benches nearby, so you may have people around you while visiting.

Bishkek Lenin Statues & Monumental Art Map

Do you know of any other Vladimir Lenin statues or monumental art in Bishkek that I may have missed in this guide? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

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