FAU has received a donation of fine Russian art from the Soviet era valued at over $2 million. The art collection, consisting of 977 pieces, includes 70 originally signed lithographs and serigraphs by some of the most prominent Russian artists, such as Mihail Chemiakin, Shimon Okshteyn, Kasimir Malevich, Moisey Kogan, Alexandre Zlotnik and Michail Aleksandrov.

“The collection is quite unique… we felt better to share it than keep it to ourselves,” said Michael Aranda of EH Building Group and the donor of the collection. “EH Building Group is honored to be able to support FAU’s School of the Arts with this donation of rare Russian art and we are proud to be part of the arts education process at FAU as it is an endeavor of extreme importance.”

Collecting the artwork for three years, Aranda and his wife Tonya offered the art to FAU after hearing some enthusiastic testimonies given by their alumni co-workers. The collection will be used for the programs offered by the Department of Visual Arts and Art History within FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.

“With this gift, students will be learning beyond textbooks,” said FAU’s Fundraising Chief Lawrence Davenport. In the coming year, some of the artwork will be featured in an exhibition to aid in the instruction of history and diplomacy for the academic and public programs within the College of Arts and Letters.

Such programs consist of the Museum Education Program, which offers educational outreach opportunities for children ranging from elementary to high school.

“This collection of Russian art represents the largest single donation of artwork ever given to our college,” said George Sparks, director of FAU’s School of the Arts. “We are overwhelmed by the Arandas’ generosity and their support of the arts and our effort to become a top research institution.”