The Soviet Lithuanian Union of Artists was an influential cultural organisation made up of local artists. It was established in 1940, and reestablished with the second Soviet occupation in 1944. The Union of Artists was formed within the framework of the USSR Union of Writers.

During the Stalinist period, the Union of Artists was active in the sovietisation of Lithuania. Most artists who participated in this process tried to adapt to the schematic requirements of Socialist Realism, and avoided risky themes. During the post-Stalinist period, the work of local artists was much more dynamic. The 1960s generation drew attention to ethnic nostalgia and the cultural heritage, especially promoting the work of the famous painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. At the Congress of Lithuanian Artists held in November 1987, just before the national revival started in 1988, a group of painters showed a critical position towards the centralism of the art field, and appeared to be the first intellectuals to partly criticise the existing system.  

During the times of perestroika, the Union of Artists emerged in the thick of the social and political changes. Leaders of the Union of Artists participated actively in the national revival in 1987-1989, and were elected to the Sąjūdis Initiative Group, which led the national movement during the Singing Revolution.

The collection of the Union of Artists was started in 1944, when it began to produce documents.