Serge Poliakoff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Serge Poliakoff
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Composition grise et rouge, 1964, oil on canvas, 160 x 130 cm
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| Born | 8 January 1900 |
| Died | 12 October 1969 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | Russian, later French |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Tachisme |
Serge Poliakoff (born January 8, 1900 – died October 12, 1969) was a famous painter. He was born in Russia but later became a French citizen. He was known for his unique style of modernist and abstract art.
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About Serge Poliakoff
Serge Poliakoff was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1900. He was one of many children in his family. His father was a businessman who supplied horses to the army. His mother was very involved with the church, and young Serge was fascinated by the religious art he saw there.
Early Life and Travels
Serge started studying art at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. However, he had to leave Russia in 1918. He arrived in Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1920. To earn money, he played the guitar, showing his musical talent.
He then traveled through many cities in Europe, including Sofia, Belgrade, Vienna, and Berlin. He continued to play music in Russian cabarets. In 1923, he finally settled in Paris, France.
Discovering Abstract Art
In 1929, Serge Poliakoff continued his art studies at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. For a while, his paintings were very traditional. But during a trip to London from 1935 to 1937, he saw something that changed his art forever. He was inspired by the bright colors and abstract designs on ancient Egyptian sarcophagi (stone coffins).
Soon after, he met other famous artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Sonia and Robert Delaunay, and Otto Freundlich. These artists were also exploring abstract art. Poliakoff had his first solo art show in Paris in 1945.
Becoming a Famous Painter
With these new influences, Poliakoff quickly became known as a very strong and important painter of his time. In 1947, he learned more about art from Jean Deyrolle in a place called Gordes in France. He was among other talented artists like Gérard Schneider and Victor Vasarely.
In the early 1950s, he still lived in a hotel and earned money by playing the balalaika, a Russian musical instrument. But soon, he signed a contract that helped him become financially stable. This meant he could focus more on his painting.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1962, a special room was dedicated to his paintings at the Venice Biennial, a very important art exhibition. In the same year, he became a French citizen. Today, his artworks are shown in many museums across Europe and in New York City. Poliakoff also worked with ceramics, creating art pieces for the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, a famous French porcelain factory.
His art even influenced other painters, like Arman. In 2013, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris held a large exhibition of his abstract paintings. It showed 150 of his works from 1946 to 1969.
See also
In Spanish: Serge Poliakoff para niños
- Ecole de Paris
