8. The United Nations Art Collection Rivals Those of Museums

United Nations sculpture

The United Nations complex is not an official museum, but its art collection makes it worth that designation. Gifts from the member countries that are in the collection includes stained glass by Marc Chagall, murals by Fernand Léger Jose Vela Zanetti, sculptures and much more. The most expensive gift comes from Saudi Arabia — a Kiswa, a golden threaded cover from the holy Kaaba in Mecca, made of 15 kilograms of gold and 630 kilograms of silk and showing the verses of the Quran. Jonathan Mishal of Visit UN says it’s so expensive, no American insurance company will insure it.

Non-Violence Knotted Gun Sculpture

Outside, some notable pieces of sculpture besides the Berlin Wall piece, includes a lesser-known Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial, the Non-Violence “Knotted Gun” sculpture by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, the Sphere within a Sphere by Arnaldo Pomodoro, and a memorable sculpture from Russia entitled “Good Defeats Evil” by Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, a native depicting St. George slaying a dragon. The “dragon” is made from pieces of decommissioned Soviet SS-20 and US Pershing nuclear missiles that were destroyed under the terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty of 1987.

Good Defeats Evil United Nations Sculpture GardenGood Defeats Evil