Valery Klever is Russian artist. He was born in the U.S.S.R. He was an active participant in the Non-Conformist movement from 1965-1978.
He was involved in the Bulldozer Exhibition on September 15, 1974.[1] His work appeared in the Gasonevski Exhibition in Leningrad in 1975; and many other showings. Due to political pressure, Klever had to show his paintings in underground art galleries and home exhibitions. The 300 paintings he made as part of his “Freedom Search” series gained popularity due to their anti-government sentiment and biblical themes; which gave Klever notoriety with the KGB.[2] For 4 years, Klever and his family faced heavy persecution.
Klever lost his Soviet citizenship in 1978 and moved to America by way of Austria, Germany, and France. He continued to work and exhibit his paintings in all the aforementioned countries.[3]
He died from testicular cancer in Thousand Oaks, CA on June 29, 2013.