Alexandra Alexandrovna Exter Paintings

Alexandra Alexandrovna Exter, also known as Alexandra Exter, was a Russian artist of the avant-garde movement, and is often associated with Constructivism. Born on January 18, 1882, in Białystok, which was then part of the Russian Empire and is now in Poland, Exter played a significant role in the development of modernist art in Russia and beyond.

Exter's early education took place in Kiev and after that she attended the art school in Paris. She was deeply influenced by the vibrant art scene in Paris and the works of artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Exter became an active participant in the Cubist movement, and her work began to reflect the dynamic geometric forms characteristic of Cubism.

During her career, Exter was not only a painter but also a designer of theater sets and costumes. She was involved in theater productions in Russia, France, and Italy, where she collaborated with other avant-garde artists and directors. Her innovative designs for the stage brought a new visual language to theater production, which was in tune with the modernist ethos of breaking traditional forms and experimenting with space, color, and shape.

After the October Revolution in Russia, Alexandra Exter embraced the revolutionary spirit in her art. She became a professor at the Kiev Art Institute and later at the Vkhutemas, the Russian state art and technical school, where she taught until 1924. Her teaching and her artworks from this period contribute significantly to the Constructivist movement, which sought to reflect the modern industrial world and emphasized abstraction, functionality, and experimental use of materials.

In 1924, Exter moved to Paris, where she continued to work and exhibit her art. She remained in Paris for the rest of her life and was part of the city's émigré artistic community. The later phase of her career saw a shift in her work as she began to explore more abstract compositions, often incorporating elements of collage and mixed media.

Sadly, Alexandra Exter's later years were marked by financial difficulties and relative obscurity. Despite this, her work has been recognized posthumously, and she is now celebrated as a key figure in the avant-garde movement, whose innovations in painting, design, and theater have had a lasting influence on the art world.

Alexandra Alexandrovna Exter passed away on March 17, 1949, in Fontenay-aux-Roses, near Paris, France. Her legacy lives on through her contributions to modern art, and her works are held in numerous museum collections around the world.