A singular collection of devils—wooden carvings, ceramic masks, stone sculptures, and modern artworks—gathered from cultures worldwide into a museum dedicated to humanity’s most enduring archetype of darkness and defiance.
At a glance
Also known as the Devil Museum, this Kaunas institution houses over 3,000 objects depicting devils across materials and traditions. Founded by Lithuanian artist Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, the collection spans folk sculptures, functional art, and contemporary political commentary. Today it operates as part of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum.
History
Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (1876–1966) began collecting devil sculptures throughout his lifetime, driven by fascination with how different cultures imagined evil. When the collection reached 260 pieces by 1966, a memorial museum was established in his house. Visitors began gifting their own devils to the collection, prompting expansion. A three-story building addition was constructed in 1982 to accommodate the growing holdings, which had reached 3,000 items by 2009.
What you see
The devils themselves constitute the exhibition. Most are carved from wood, ceramic, stone, or paper; others manifest as masks or paintings on silk and canvas. Some serve purely artistic purposes, while others have been integrated into functional objects—pipes, nutcrackers, decorative vessels. The formal program expanded with the 1982 extension, allowing thematic and chronological display of the expanding collection across three levels.
Cultural significance
The museum illuminates how societies externalize moral anxiety through artistic form. Devils collected from across the world reveal parallel mythologies and distinct cultural anxieties. Among the holdings, one sculpture depicts Hitler and Stalin as devils dancing over human bones—a direct linkage between folk tradition and modern atrocity. The collection bridges sacred iconography, folk craft, and contemporary art in a single, provocative narrative.
Key facts
- Country: Lithuania
- City: Kaunas
- Coordinates: 54.900833, 23.910556
- Founded: 1966 (as memorial museum)
- Holdings: 3,000+ objects (as of 2009)
- Parent institution: M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum
Practical information & getting there
The museum is located in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city. It operates as part of the national art museum system. Check opening hours and current exhibitions before your visit, as programs may vary seasonally. Kaunas is accessible by road and rail from Vilnius, approximately 100 kilometers to the southeast.
Sources & resources
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