Wassily Kandinsky

Widely considered to be the forefather of modern abstraction, Russian painter and art theorist Wassily Kandinsky developed a visual language of color, form and movement that redefined art in the 20th century. Born the son of a tea merchant in Moscow, Kandinsky first studied law and economics before becoming involved with the Munich Art world, eventually teaching at the Kunstakademie around the turn of the century. Influenced early on by the light in the work of Impressionists such as Claude Monet, Kandinsky’s early woodcuts and paintings showed a deep understanding of color. After founding the Neue Künstlervereinigung München (Munich New Artists' Association), Kandinsky formed the Blue Rider (Der Blaue Reiter) group with fellow artists and theorists such as August Macke, Franz Marc, Albert Bloch, and Gabriele Münter. Pioneering new and innovative ideas concerning the purpose and emotionality of art making, Kandinsky’s explorations of early abstraction stemmed from his desire to depict the psyche as well as the outside world. A deeply spiritual individual, Kandinsky saw visual art and music as profound means of transcendence, engaging audiences across all boundaries of identity.

As Kandinsky’s work continued to expand in the realms of abstraction, improvisation and geometric composition, he taught advanced courses in art theory at the Bauhaus until the Nazi party closed the school in 1933. Forced out of Germany, Kandinsky settled in a suburb of Paris, where his style continued to shift, encompassing his theories of aesthetic complexity and biomorphic form. He continued to produce work until his death in 1944. Kandinsky’s legacy includes not only his paintings and writings, but also his connections, collaborations and friendships with artist, musicians, and cultural figures such as Solomon R. Guggenheim, who founded the iconic institution with the intention of promoting modern, avant-garde art—including over 150 of Kandinsky’s works. His symphonic compositions and forward-thinking theories inspired an entire generation of abstract and color-field artists including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Julian Schnabel, Philip Guston, and many more. His works are found in almost every major museum collection worldwide and has been the subject of exhibitions and retrospectives including Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.