# Kazimir Malevich

> Russian avant-garde artist of Polish ancestry. Founder of the Suprematist movement (1879–1935)

**Wikidata**: [Q130777](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130777)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazimir_Malevich)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kazimir-malevich

## Summary

Kazimir Malevich was born on February 11, 1879, in Kyiv[1][2][3][4][5], and died on May 15, 1935, in Saint Petersburg[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][4][3]. He held citizenship in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. His professional occupations included painter, sculptor, printmaker, teacher, scenographer, and costume designer[4][18][3], and he also held the position of museum director[3].He worked in the fields of avant-garde, visual art activity, art history, and Suprematism[19]. His associated movements were Suprematism, Russian avant-garde, and Constructivism. The genres he engaged with encompassed scenography, painting, abstract art, still life, and figurative art[2].

## Summary
Kazimir Malevich was a Russian avant-garde artist of Polish ancestry, best known as the founder of the Suprematist movement. He revolutionized modern art with his abstract geometric works, including the iconic *Black Square*, and significantly influenced 20th-century visual arts and scenography.

## Biography
- Born: February 11, 1879 (or February 23, 1879, depending on source) in Kyiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
- Nationality: Russian (of Polish ancestry)
- Education: Studied at the Kyiv School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1896–1904)
- Known for: Pioneering Suprematism, a radical abstract art movement
- Employer(s): Taught at the Vkhutemas (Higher Artistic and Technical Studios) in Moscow (1920–1930)
- Field(s): Visual arts, painting, scenography, art theory

## Contributions
- **Suprematism**: Founded the Suprematist movement in 1915, advocating for pure geometric abstraction in art. Key works include *Black Square (1915)*, *Red Square (1915)*, and *Black Cross (1915)*.
- **UNOVIS**: Led the UNOVIS art collective (1920–1930), promoting Suprematism and influencing Soviet avant-garde art.
- **Scenography**: Designed stage sets and lighting for avant-garde performances, blending art and theatre.
- **Teaching**: Established the Vkhutemas art school in Moscow, shaping Soviet art education.
- **Notable Works**: Created *The Knife Grinder (1912)*, *An Englishman in Moscow (1914)*, and *Red Cavalry Riding (1932)*.

## FAQs
**What was Kazimir Malevich’s most famous work?**
Malevich’s most famous work is *Black Square (1915)*, a radical abstract painting that symbolized the purity of form and the essence of Suprematism.

**Where did Kazimir Malevich study?**
He studied at the Kyiv School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1896–1904), a key institution in his artistic training.

**What was the Suprematist movement?**
Suprematism was an abstract art movement founded by Malevich, focusing on geometric forms and non-objective art, rejecting traditional representation.

**Did Kazimir Malevich work in theatre design?**
Yes, he was a pioneer in scenography, designing stage sets and lighting for avant-garde performances, blending art and theatre.

**Where did Kazimir Malevich teach?**
He taught at the Vkhutemas (Higher Artistic and Technical Studios) in Moscow from 1920 to 1930, shaping Soviet art education.

## Why They Matter
Kazimir Malevich’s work fundamentally altered modern art by introducing Suprematism, a movement that emphasized pure form and abstraction. His *Black Square* became an iconic symbol of non-representational art, influencing generations of artists. As a founder of the UNOVIS collective, he bridged avant-garde art and Soviet cultural policy. His contributions to scenography also advanced stage design, merging art and performance. Malevich’s legacy endures in art history, shaping abstract and conceptual art movements worldwide.

## Notable For
- Founder of Suprematism, a groundbreaking abstract art movement.
- Creator of *Black Square (1915)*, a landmark in non-objective art.
- Leader of the UNOVIS art collective, shaping Soviet avant-garde art.
- Pioneer in scenography, designing stage sets and lighting for avant-garde performances.
- Established the Vkhutemas art school, influencing Soviet art education.
- Influenced key artists like Ilya Chashnik and the Supremus group.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Kazimir Malevich was born on February 11, 1879 (or February 23, 1879, depending on source) in Kyiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He was of Polish ancestry and studied at the Kyiv School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture from 1896 to 1904. His early training laid the foundation for his later avant-garde experiments.

### Artistic Breakthrough and Suprematism
In 1915, Malevich founded Suprematism, an abstract art movement that rejected traditional representation in favor of pure geometric forms. His most famous work, *Black Square (1915)*, became a symbol of the movement. Other key Suprematist works include *Red Square (1915)* and *Black Cross (1915)*. These paintings emphasized the essence of form over content, influencing modern abstract art.

### UNOVIS and Soviet Avant-Garde
Malevich led the UNOVIS art collective from 1920 to 1930, promoting Suprematism and collaborating with artists like Ilya Chashnik. UNOVIS played a crucial role in shaping Soviet avant-garde art, bridging avant-garde movements and Soviet cultural policy.

### Scenography and Stage Design
As a pioneer in scenography, Malevich designed stage sets and lighting for avant-garde performances, merging art and theatre. His work in scenography advanced the integration of visual arts with performance, influencing stage design in modern theatre.

### Teaching and Legacy
Malevich taught at the Vkhutemas (Higher Artistic and Technical Studios) in Moscow from 1920 to 1930, establishing the school as a center for Soviet art education. His teaching methods and artistic vision shaped generations of artists. He died on May 15, 1935, leaving a lasting impact on modern art and culture.

### Notable Works
- *The Knife Grinder (1912)*: A figurative work that transitioned into abstract Suprematism.
- *An Englishman in Moscow (1914)*: A painting that reflects his early engagement with modern art.
- *Red Cavalry Riding (1932)*: A later work that continued his exploration of geometric abstraction.

### Influence and Recognition
Malevich’s contributions to art and scenography earned him recognition as a pioneer of modern abstraction. His work continues to inspire artists, designers, and theorists worldwide, cementing his legacy in art history.

## References

1. [parish register](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ЦДІАК_України_Ф_1268_Оп_1_Спр_26_Арк_13зв-14_Казимир_Малевичев_народження.jpg)
2. Artnet
3. RKDartists
4. The Fine Art Archive
5. Integrated Authority File
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. BnF authorities
8. Museum of Modern Art online collection
9. Czech National Authority Database
10. Union List of Artist Names
11. [‘aF’ forma obema (‘aF’ vorm van volume)](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/17727-kazimir-malevich-%27af%27-forma-obema-%28%27af%27-vorm-van-volume%29)
12. Japan Search
13. archINFORM
14. CiNii Research
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. MusicBrainz
17. Kazimir Severinovich Malevich. RKDartists
18. Benezit Dictionary of Artists
19. SNAC
20. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
21. Enciclopédia Itaú Cultural
22. Find a Grave
23. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
24. Malevich, Kazimir
25. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
26. Le Delarge
27. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
28. [If This Picture Could Talk: A Malevich painting's long route to the auction block](https://www.lootedart.com/news.php?r=NBNUH7312361)
29. [Source](https://redavantgarde.com/en/author/329.html)
30. [Source](http://www.ubu.com/sound/malevich.html)
31. [Source](https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/ii_documenta)
32. [Source](https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_8)
33. CONOR.SI
34. Autoritats UB
35. Museum of Modern Art
36. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art online collection
37. [zonder titel. 1922](https://hdl.handle.net/21.12135/obj3439)
38. [Source](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiarch.php)
39. LIBRIS. 2014
40. COURAGE Knowledge Graph
41. [2015](https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/fr/dataset/musee-dart-contemporain-de-montreal-liste-dartistes-de-la-collection-domaine-public)
42. [Pobeda nad Solntsem](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/68383-alexei-yeliseyevich-kruchonykh-pobeda-nad-solntsem)
43. [Boerenvrouw met emmers](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/3134-kazimir-malevich-boerenvrouw-met-emmers)
44. [Fragmenten van een tekst over het suprematisme](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/106592-kazimir-malevich-fragmenten-van-een-tekst-over-het-suprematisme)
45. [3D interpretatie naar 'Segodnyashnye sooruzheniya (Moderne gebouwen)' van Kazimir Malevich](https://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/collection/details/collection/?lookup%5B1673%5D%5Bfilter%5D%5B0%5D=id%3AC8067)
46. Golden
47. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
48. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
49. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma99801203504896)
50. performing-arts.ch