Born 1882, Belostok (now Bialystock, Poland) - Died 1949, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Paris
Painter and theatre designer
Paintings Theatre Illustrations Design Biography 
Viewed Most Often
Aelita, Queen of Marcians.
Costume Design for film "Aelita",
novel by A.Tolstoy. 1924.
Marionettes. Lady in Red.
American Policeman. 1926.
Design of a Dress. 1923.
Cubism Interior. 1912.
Figure with Dagger.
Costume Design for "Romeo and
Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1920.
Current Panel: Total Panels:
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Still Life with a Vase and Flowers. 1908.
Oil on canvas, 80.5x65 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Still Life. 1909.
Oil on canvas, 24x21 cm.
Kiev Museum of Russian Art.
Still Life. 1909-1910.
Oil on canvas, 80.5x65 cm.
Museum of History and Art, Serpukhov.
Three Female Figures. 1910-1911.
Oil on canvas, 60x63 cm.
Museum of Ukranian Visual Art, Kiev.
Drawing for Painting "Bridge" (North). 1912.
Colored pencil on paper, 33.5x25 cm.
Z.Kucherenko Collection, Kiev.
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Bridge (Sevres). 1912.
Oil on canvas, 145x115 cm.
Museum of Ukranian Visual Art, Kiev.
City at Night. 1913.
Oil on canvas, 88x71 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
A City. 1913.
Oil on canvas, 88.5x70.5 cm.
Vologda Region Picture Gallery.
Still Life (Bowl of Cherries). 1914.
Oil on canvas, 89x72 cm.
Rostov-Yaroslavl Museum Reserve of Architecture and Art.
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Composition. 1914.
Oil on canvas, 90.7x72.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Florence. 1914.
Oil on canvas, 109x145 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
The Bank of the Seine. 1914-1915 (?).
Oil on canvas.
Yaroslavl Art Museum.
Composition. 1915 (?).
Gouache, watercolor and Indian ink, pen and brush on cardboard, 53x51 cm.
Ukrainian Museum of the Theatre, Music and Cinema, Kiev.
Still Life with Easter Eggs. 1916.
Oil on canvas, 88x70 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Color Dynamics. Ca 1916.
Oil and gouache on cardboard, 148x82 cm.
Private collection.
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Dynamic Composition. Ca 1916.
Gouache on paper, 65x51 cm.
Private collection.
Non-Objective Composition. 1916.
Oil on canvas, 78.5x59.5 cm.
Anneli Juda Fine Arts, London.
Color Dynamics. 1916-1917.
Oil on canvas, 89.5x54 cm.
Museum Ludwig, Köln.
Still Life In Constructivism. 1917.
Oil on canvas, 121x109 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
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Non-objective. 1917-1918.
Oil on canvas, 71x53 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Non-objective Composition. 1917-1918 (?).
Oil on canvas, 88x70 cm.
Lunacharsky Regional Art Museum, Krasnodar.
Structure of Planes According to Color Movement. 1918.
Oil on canvas, 64x45 cm.
Wilheim Hack Museum, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Planar Movement. 1917-1918.
Oil on canvas, 92.5x76 cm.
Nizhnetagil's Fine Arts Museum.
Composition. 1921.
Gouache on paper, 42x39 cm.
Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo NY.
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Color Construction. 1921.
Oil on canvas, 89x89 cm.
Radischev State Arts Museum, Saratov.
Color Movement Over Construction. 1921.
Oil on canvas, 80x55 cm.
Private collection, Germany.
Planar Construction (Color Rythms). 1921.
Oil on cardboard, 36.2x28 cm.
Private collection.
Composition. 1921.
Ink, pen, brush and pencil on paper, 48x32 cm.
D.Sarabyanov Collection, Moscow.
Color Construction. 1921.
Oil on canvas, 88x72 cm.
Private collection.
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Color Construction. 1922.
Oil on canvas, 62x66 cm.
Daghestan Republic Museum of Fine Arts, Makhachkala.
Untitled. 1922.
Oil on canvas, 30.5x20 cm.
Slobodskoi Museum of Regional Studies, Kirov Region.
Construction. 1922-1923.
Oil on canvas, 89.8x89.2 cm.
Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Still Life in a Landscape. 1925-1926.
Gouache on paper, 26x33.5 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Café. 1928.
Oil on canvas, 100.5x80.5 cm.
Private collection, France.
The Beach. Early 1930s.
Oil on canvas.
Private collection, Paris.
Orpheus and Eurydice. 1930s.
Oil on cardboard, 58x99 cm.
Collection of Vera Mukhina family, Moscow.
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Design for Curtain and Portal of Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theatre. 1916.
Gouache, watercolor, bronze and solver on paper, 53x73.9 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Poster for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache and pencil on paper, 100x70.8 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Maenad. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, Indian ink and pencil on paper, 47.5x41 cm.
Collection of I.Ezrakh, St.Petersburg.
Bacchante. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, Indian ink, pencil and varnish on paper, 47.5x41 cm.
Collection of I.Ezrakh, St.Petersburg.
Bacchante. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, Indian ink and collage on paper, 44.5x37 cm.
Ukrainian Museum of the Theatre, Music and Cinema, Kiev.
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Nymph. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze and pencil on paper, 48.7x41 cm.
Collection of the Chudnovsky family, St.Petersburg.
Bacchante. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, Indian ink, bronze and pencil on paper, 48.7x41 cm.
Collection of S.Shuster, St.Petersburg.
Bacchante. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, Indian ink, bronze, silver, pencil and varnish on paper, 44.6x31.6 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Two Fawns. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, Indian ink, bronze on paper, 47.7x53 cm.
Russian Central State Archives of Literature and Art, Moscow.
Satyr. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, Indian ink, bronze on paper mounted on cardboard, 50.3x42.5 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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Dancer in a Tunic. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze and pencil on paper, 45.2x47.5 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Bacchante. Costume Design for production "Thamira Kythared" after Play by I.Annenski. 1916. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze and pencil on paper, 50.8x33.3 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Scene 1. Décor Sketch for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache and pencil on paper, 22.5x30.8 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Jokanaan and Salomé. Décor Sketch for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache and pencil on paper, 22.6x31 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Scene of the Young Syrian's Death. Décor Sketch for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache and pencil on paper, 22.5x33.5 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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Final Scene, Salomé's Death. Décor Sketch for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache and pencil on paper, 22.8x30.8 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Two Saduccees. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, silver on cardboard, 68x51.1 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Salomé. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, silver on cardboard, 68.8x51.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Salomé: the Dance of the Seven Veils. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, silver on cardboard, 66.5x52.6 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Herodias. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 69.9x54.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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Two Jews. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on cardboard, 68x52.6 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Three Slave Women. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 68.1x51.6 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Slave Woman With a Pitcher. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 67x52.3 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Jokanaan. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on cardboard, 68x37.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Soldier. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, silver on cardboard, 67.3x49.5 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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The Page of Herodias. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 65.9x42 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
King Herod. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, silver on cardboard, 67.9x50.7 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Salomé. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, silver on cardboard, 64.8x36 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
The Young Syrian. Costume Design for "Salomé" by O.Wilde. 1917. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 68x44.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Woman's Costume. 1918.
Gouache, collage and pencil on paper, 51x34.4 cm.
Collection of S.Shuster, St.Petersburg.
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Woman's Costume for Spanish Dance. 1920.
Gouache, varnish on cardboard, 49.2x34.7 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Man's Costume. 1920.
Gouache on cardboard, 48.2x35.7 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Man's Costume. 1920.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 50x37.5 cm.
Collection of I.Fedorkov, Odessa.
A Man's Costume. 1920.
Gouache on cardboard, 32x38 cm.
Private collection, Paris.
A Woman's Costume. From the dancing series by Elsa Kruger. 1920.
Gouache, bronze and pencil on cardboard, 52.2x33.3 cm.
Collection of A.Chizhov, Moscow.
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Curtain. Décor Sketch for "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, siver on paper mounted on cardboard, 46.7x36.7 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Square in Verona. Décor Sketch for "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, pencil on paper, 23x36.7 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Juliet's Chamber. Décor Sketch for "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Size paint, whitening, silver, collage, varnish on cardboard, 53x33.2 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Friar Laurence's cell. Décor Sketch for "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, silver, on paper mounted on on cardboard, 44x57.8 cm.
Romeo. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 54.5x35.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Juliet. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, silver on cardboard, 52.1x34.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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Benvolio. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, Indian ink, silver on paper mounted on cardboard, 54.1x37 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Mercutio. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on cardboard, 54.4x35.8 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Grigorio, Servant of Capulet. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, varnish on cardboard, 53.7x35.3 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
First Musician. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on cardboard, 53x37.4 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Woman's Mask. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 51x36.3 cm.
Ukrainian Museum of the Theatre, Music and Cinema, Kiev.
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First Female Mask. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze on cardboard, 54x35.2 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Third Female Mask. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on cardboard, 49x34.5 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Fourth Female Mask. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on cardboard, 49.9x32.4 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Lady at the Capulet Feast. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1921. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, collage on cardboard, 50.9x32.4 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1920. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache, bronze, collage on cardboard, 52x38 cm.
Private collection, Paris.
Paintings Theatre Illustrations Design Biography
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Figure with Dagger. Costume Design for "Romeo and Juliette" by Shakespeare. 1920. Produced at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater.
Gouache on paper, 55x30 cm.
Ukrainian Museum of the Theatre, Music and Cinema, Kiev.
Two Officials. Costume Design for "Smert' Tarelkina" (The Death of Tarelkin) by A.Sukhovo-Kobylin. 1920. Not realized production at the First Studio of Moscow Art Theater.
Gouache on paper mounted on cardboard, 45.5x35.6 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Rasplyuev. Costume Design for "Smert' Tarelkina" (The Death of Tarelkin) by A.Sukhovo-Kobylin. 1920. Not realized production at the First Studio of Moscow Art Theater.
Gouache on paper mounted on cardboard, 45.2x35.5 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Woman With a Hooped Skirt. Costume Design for "La Dama Duende" (The Invisible Lady) by P.Calderon de la Barca. 1924. Not realized production at the Second Studio of Moscow Art Theater.
Gouache, collage on paper, 43x55 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Woman With a Fan. Costume Design for "La Dama Duende" (The Invisible Lady) by P.Calderon de la Barca. 1924. Not realized production at the Second Studio of Moscow Art Theater.
Gouache, collage on paper, 43x55 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
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A Man With a Collar. Costume Design for "La Dama Duende" (The Invisible Lady) by P.Calderon de la Barca. 1924. Not realized production at the Second Studio of Moscow Art Theater.
Gouache, collage on paper, 43x55 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Aelita, Queen of Marcians. Costume Design for film "Aelita", novel by A.Tolstoy. 1924. Directed by Y.Protazanov.
Gouache, Indian ink on paper, 68.6x46.7 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Marcian. Costume Design for film "Aelita", novel by A.Tolstoy. 1924. Directed by Y.Protazanov.
Watercolor on cardboard, cotton, steel wire and tacks, 26.2x12.2x5.7 cm.
National Gallery of Australia (picture from their website nga.gov.au).
Marionette. Robot. 1926. Was shown at the exhibition "Alexanra Exter. Marionettes", NY: Leonard Hutton Galleries, 1975.
Textile, wood, cardboard, height 51 cm.
Private collection, USA.
Marionette. Sandwich-Man. 1926. Was shown at the exhibition "Alexanra Exter. Marionettes", NY: Leonard Hutton Galleries, 1975.
Textile, wood, wire, collage on cardboard base, 53.5x30.5x10.5 cm.
National Gallery of Australia (picture from their website nga.gov.au).
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Marionettes. Grey Harlequin. Black Harlequin. 1926. Were shown at the exhibition "Alexanra Exter. Marionettes", NY: Leonard Hutton Galleries, 1975.
Painted wood, metal, tin, fabric, thread and plastic, 51.6x25.3x14.0 cm. Wood, copper strips and canvas, height 56 cm.
Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington. Musee Belles-Rives, Zurich.
Marionettes. Lady in Red. American Policeman. 1926. Were shown at the exhibition "Alexanra Exter. Marionettes", NY: Leonard Hutton Galleries, 1975.
Painted wood, fabric, felt, metal, thread, yarn and plastic, 52.5x27.9x14.5 cm. Painted wood, fabric, felt, ribbon, metal, thread and plastic, 59.5x23.3x23.17 cm.
Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington.
Décor Sketch for Revue. Pages from album "Alexandra Exter. Theatre Décor". Ca 1925.
Gouache on paper, 51x67 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Décor Sketch and Lighting for "Don Juan" Play by S.Polyakov and P.Potyomkin, Act 3. 1926. Production project of 1926, Paris.
Gouache on paper, 50.5x69.5 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Duel Scene. Décor Sketch and Lighting for "Otello". Ca 1927.
Gouache on paper, 46.5x60 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
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Stage with Two Dansers Holding Wheels. Décor Sketch for "Lumiere" Ballet Project. 1930.
Tempera on cardboard, 46.5x60 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Décor Maquette. Lighting for a Tragedy. Ca 1927. Pages from album "Alexandra Exter. Theatre Décor". 1930.
Gouache on paper, 51.5x51 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Décor Sketch. Spanish Pantomime. Ca 1926. Pages from album "Alexandra Exter. Theatre Décor". 1930.
Gouache, Indian ink on paper, 49.5x52 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Décor Sketch. Operetta. Pages from album "Alexandra Exter. Theatre Décor". 1930.
Tempera on cardboard, 33x50.4 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Décor Sketch. Revue. Pages from album "Alexandra Exter. Theatre Décor". 1930.
Tempera on cardboard, 33x50.4 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
Décor Sketch. Circus. Pages from album "Alexandra Exter. Theatre Décor". 1930.
Tempera on cardboard, 33x50.4 cm.
Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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Cover for book "Zapiski Rezhissera" (A Director's Notes) by A.Tairov. 1921. Kamerny Theatre Publishers, Moscow.
Headpiece for book "Zapiski Rezhissera" (A Director's Notes) by A.Tairov. 1921. Kamerny Theatre Publishers, Moscow.
Headpiece for book "Zapiski Rezhissera" (A Director's Notes) by A.Tairov. 1921. Kamerny Theatre Publishers, Moscow.
Tailpiece for book "Zapiski Rezhissera" (A Director's Notes) by A.Tairov. 1921. Kamerny Theatre Publishers, Moscow.
Tailpiece for book "Zapiski Rezhissera" (A Director's Notes) by A.Tairov. 1921. Kamerny Theatre Publishers, Moscow.
Paintings Theatre Illustrations Design Biography
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Cover for book "Iskusstvo Dega" (The Art of Degas) by Ya.Tugenkhold. 1922. Z.I.Grzhebin Publishing House, Moscow.
Cover for children's book "Panorama du Fleuve" (Panorama of the River). 1937. Flammarion, Paris.
Illustration for children's book "Panorama du Fleuve" (Panorama of the River). 1937. Flammarion, Paris.
Illustration for "Ode to Bacchus" by Horace. 1937.
Gouache on paper, 25x33 cm.
Collection of Ester M.Simerova.
Illustration for "Ode to Bacchus" by Horace. 1937.
Gouache on paper, 25x33 cm.
Collection of Ester M.Simerova.
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Illustration for "Ode to Bacchus" by Horace. 1937.
Gouache on paper, 25x33 cm.
Collection of Ester M.Simerova.
Illustration for "Ode to Bacchus" by Horace. 1937.
Gouache on paper, 25x33 cm.
Collection of Ester M.Simerova.
Cover for children's book "Panorama de la Montagne" (Panorama of the Mountain). 1937. Flammarion, Paris.
Illustration for book of verses by Sappho, of which only 5 copies were published in Paris. 1942.
Illustration for book of verses by Sappho, of which only 5 copies were published in Paris. 1942.
Illustration for book of verses by Sappho, of which only 5 copies were published in Paris. 1942.
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Textile Design. 1923.
Design of a Coat. 1923.
Design of a Fancy Dress. 1923.
Design of a Suit. 1923.
Paintings Theatre Illustrations Design Biography
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Design of Mass-produced Clothes: Dress, Coat, Blouse and Baby-suit. 1923.
Design of Mass-produced Clothes: Dress, Suit, Coat and Accessories. 1923.
Paintings Theatre Illustrations Design Biography
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Biography:
Alexandra Exter is a truly singular artist much understated and unrecognized. She was as prolific, active and present as the leading names of Russian Avant-garde we see in each exhibition coupled with hers: A.Arkhipenko, D.Burliuk, M.Chagall, N.Goncharova, W.Kandinsky, P.Konchalovsky, N.Kulbin, M.Larionov, I.Mashkov, V.Mukina,L.Popova and many others. Her name comes up through association, but not much on her own, except in the theatre sphere.
And yet this was an artist of extraordinary completeness and insight, a strong, expressive and diverse artist in her own right. Exter's art is consistent and complete, though she has changed and evolved over time, like other artists. She has never shown passionate jumps from one artistic search to another, nor has she completely dropped a past understanding in favor of a new one. Her own search has been inspired and thorough, surehanded, and the answers - uniquely her own. In Cubism she retains her colorful solutions so unlike any other, and the structure transformation interpretation is more a strengthening of the underlying structure of the subject than the division of it, like many artists did. The completeness and consistent developement, the thorough working of every work in any area is evident through an overview of a large amount of Exter's art.
Alexandra Alexandrovna Exter was born January 6th 1882 in Belostock (now in Poland) in a family of a excise tax collector, Alexander Avraamovich Grigorovich. In 1885 the family moved to the Ukraine, where they live first in Smela, then in Kiev.
In 1895 Alexandra, who until then was educated at home, was enrolled into St.Olga gymnasium for girls in Kiev, from which she graduates in 1899 with a governess diploma.
In 1901 she entered Kiev Art school as a free student, then in 1903 she stoped her studies, and married her cousin, the Kiev lawyer Nikolai Evgenievich Exter. In 1906 she resumed her studies in the Art School, alongside A.Lentulov, A.Arkhipenko, A.Bogomazov.
In 1907 Exter went to Paris for the first time, where she attended Académie de la Grande Chaumière.
A.Exter. 1910s.
In 1916 Exter painted the staircases, lobby and scene portale for Chamber Theatre on the Tverskoy Blvd. The curtain was made after her design. That year has seen the production of Thamira Kythared in the Moscow Chamber Theatre, with décor and costumes designed by Exter. The in 1917 the production of "Salomé" by O.Wilde, which was recognized by some as the most expressive work by Exter thus far.
The Chamber Theatre is indeed tied irrevocably to Exter's name. She has come to the theatre a complete, mature artist. Her color palette; her sense of form and movement; and certainty of expression are clearly passed in her theatre designs.
Alongside the work in the Chamber theatre, the painting and illustration, Exter has made her contribution to the applied art field. She designed clothes for mass production, fabric, fancy party dresses. She participated .
In 1918 Exter joined the society of art workers and was elected into a consulting committee. In Odessa she organized the teaching in the school of arts for children, where she taught on the basis of non-objective painting.
When her husband, N.Exter died, the artist has gone back to Kiev. In order to provide she has opened a workshop, which has instantly filled to bursting with students. This forced her to work double shifts. Her own work was slowed down as a result, which caused her much pain.
In the spring of 1918 Kiev was occupied by the Germans, who dispersed the government and replaced it.
Together with I.Rabinovich Exter has opened a workshop of decorative art, which fulfilled orders for theatre and decorative work as well taught painting, drawing and theatre decoration. Here artists such as P.Chelischev, A.Tyshler, N.Shifrin, A.Petrovichev studied and many other talanted young artists are drawn there.
In 1919 the Education NARCOMAT of the Ukraine SSR has requested that Exter participate in decorating the streets for "Red Army Day". She was then sent to the newly freed Odessa, to decorate the city for the May 1st festivities.
In 1920 Exter moved to Moscow and married Georgy Georgievich Nekrasov, an actor. There she has designed theatre costumes for the production "La Dama Duende" (The Invisible Lady) by P.Calderon de la Barca, which was not realized, for Moscow Art Theater; then for "Romeo and Juliet" for the Chamber Theatre; and the production "Death of Tarelkin"m which was not realized, for Moscow Art Theater.
In 1921 Exter also illustrated books, taught in the VKhUTEMAS.
In 1922-1923 Exter has worked with the Workshop of Modern Costume, ans then Fashion Atelier "Moskvoshveya" (Moscow seamstress), together with V.Mukina, N.Lamanova and other artists. She designed fabric for industrial production, and along with a group of leading artists designed the uniform for Red Army soldiers. She wrote esays on this matter, looking at the clothing as an integral part of life, which needed to be in harmony with the various work done while wearing these clothes, incorporating traditional Russian colorful spectrum.
The artist, in collaboration with V.Mukhina and the architect B.Gladkov design the project of pavillion "Izvestiya ZIK and VZIK USSR" and with I Nivinsky for "Krasnaya Niva" at the First All-Russian Agricultural and Industrial Handicrafts Eshibition in Moscow.
In 1925-1930 Exter was teaching teatre art in the Academy of Modern Art in Paris, upon invitation from F.Leger. She worked on a series of productions that were not realized, and her famous marionettes for theatre and cinema.
A.Exter. 1930s.
In 1930 Alexandra Exter settles in a Paris suburb Fontenay-aux-Roses, where she lived till the end of her life.
Exter was a member of the Jack of Diamonds group from 1911; and of the Union of Youth group from 1913.
From 1908 Exter lived in Kiev, Moscow, Petersburg and participated in numerous exhibitions, in Russia and abroad, beginning with an exhibition organized by the journal "The World of Art". In Moscow she met fellow artists such as N.Goncharova, M.Larionov, D.Burliuk. With D.Burliuk and N.Kulbin she organized an exhibition "Zveno" (Link) in Kiev. The artist participated in "Venok Stefanos" exhibition and then in the International exhibition of paintings, sculpture, graphic art and drawing, in the Izdebsky's Salon; in exhibition "Triangle" with D.Burliuk, N.Kulbin,. E.Guro, M.Matiushin and others. Over the years she took part in the various Union of Youth group and the Jack of Diamonds group exhibitions; with the painting and sculpture society "Moscow salon"; the the Salon of Independents in Paris, together with other Russian artists: A.Arkhipenko, M.Chagall, W.Kandinsky, P.Konchalovsky, I.Mashkov and others - and then in Brussels; the "Golden crosscut" exhibition of Cubism in Paris; Larionov's group "#4" in Moscow; organized exhibition for group "The Ring" in Kiev; participated in the International free Futurism exhibition of painting and sculpture in Rome; in several exhibitions of applied art in Moscow and in Kiev, alongside other renown artists in the field such as L.Popova, O.Rosanova, N.Udaltzova, I.Puni, N.Davydova and others; in "5x5=25" exhibition with A.Vesnin, L.Popova, V.Stepanova and A.Rodchenko; in exhibition "Artists of the Chamber Theatre" in Paris and Berlin; in the XIV International art exhibition in Venice; in the International exhibition of modern theatre techniques in Vienna; in the International theatre exhibition in New York; exhibition "Cirtle and Square" in Paris; in Gallerie Flasheim in Berlin; "Cubism and Avstract Art" in New York; the "Theatre Art" exhibition in the National Gallerie of Canada, Ottawa.
Her first personal exhibition is held in 1928 in London in the Galerie Claridge, and then next year in the Galirie Quatre Chemin in Paris; the Art-Industrial Museum in Prague.