Statue of Lenin on a New York roof

A few years after Russians pulled down statues of Vladimir I. Lenin, founder of the Russian Communist Party, leader of the Russian Revolution of 1917, and architect and builder of the Soviet state, a statue of him appeared in the East Village.

Both are part of an apartment complex called "Red Square." The clock is officially known as "Askew". The clock covers a water tower; the design is based on a watch featured in a MoMA collection.

The statue was purchased by Walker, Ursitti and McGinniss, Inc. from sculptor Gerasimov in 1993 and was placed on the roof of "Red Square" in 1994 with permission of co-owner Michael Rosen.