LISS Simon (Simon) Mikhailovich

October 24, 1900 (Kiev) - May 10, 1981 (Florida, USA)

painter, graphic designer, art and theater critic.

Parents Lissima fond of music and painting. In the 1910 future artist studied at the gymnasium Naumenko. Simultaneously, he took violin lessons at the Kiev Conservatory, and also attended art school A. Monk. Since 10 years all his spare time drawing and model the backdrop for an imaginary theater.

In late 1910-s he worked in the Kiev city theater, met with Alexandra Exter and Rabinovich. Autumn 1919 emigrated, for a short time he lived in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Austria, in 1920 moved to Germany. He lived in Berlin, where he studied at art school Reiman, then moved to Wiesbaden. In 1921 he moved to London, has exhibited his works at the exhibition of Russian artists in the gallery "Vitshapl».

Since the end of 1921 he lived permanently in Paris. In 1922 he joined the National School of Decorative Arts, but the course is not finished. Independently studied history of art in museums, libraries and offices of the engravings.

In the early 1920's worked as a secretary in the Russian Art Publishing House A. Kogan, where he publishes the magazine "The Firebird". Became acquainted with GK Lukomski, S. Yu Sudeikin, Alexander Benois, LS Bakst. Since 1922 he has exhibited his works in the salons of Independent, The Tuileries, the French artists, Salon d'Automne.

in 1923-1925 was secretary of the international theatrical revue L `Oeuvre, which published an article about Bakst. Collaborated with magazines Beaux-Arts, and L `Art et les Artistes, in which he wrote numerous articles on decorative arts and theater, including the Russian artists Alexandra Exter, B. K. Bilinska, BM Kustodiev.

In 1923 he was invited to the Paris theater decorator L `Oeuvre, for which designed the dozen performances, and play" Hamlet "by William Shakespeare brought him fame in the theatrical world: the decorations were awarded silver medal at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris.

In the 1920's created the sketches of scenery and costumes for the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" and "Kashchei Immortal" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in the Gran Teatro del Liceo in Barcelona (both work in 1924), "Prince Igor" A. Borodin in Theater Mint in Brussels (1925), the play "Eaglet" E. Rostand, Latvian National Theater (1927). The designer rooms dancer-mime M. Ricotta, collaborated with the troupe of Russian Ballet Colonel Vasil yes Basil in Monte Carlo, in particular, designed the 1933 ballet to music by 4-th symphony of Johannes Brahms.

In 1924 began long association with the porcelain factory at Sevres and Limoges, which acted under orders of the painting decorative plates and vases (later helped him in this artist-ceramist L. Rodzianko). Since 1925, cooperated with the Bar silk factory in Lyons, has created many designs for decorative screens, curtains and fabrics.

In 1928 in the gallery "Charpentier" held the first solo exhibition Lissima. In the same year was published the first monograph on the artist. In 1935 traveled to the United States. In 1936 in the gallery "Vildenshtayn" in New York held a retrospective exhibition of his works. From 1939 to 1941 he served in the French army.

In 1941 he moved to the United States, lived in New York. In 1942 served as the Director of Arts Education at New York Public Library. Engaged book graphic, illustrating Russian fairy tales. From 1944 to 1971 led scenography course in the city college. Lissima solo exhibitions were held in New York in the galleries "Wendell" (1941), "Jensen" (1944), "Binet" (1951), Museum of Natural History (1953). In 1979-1980 a retrospective traveling exhibition "The World of Simon Lissima", shown in various U.S. cities.

Lissy - one of the most prominent representatives of the so-called "Russian Abroad". He emigrated when he was only 19 years old, but despite this, he always maintained a close relationship with the Russian culture (aptly art critic D. Boult, "was one of the most" Russian "to all" Parisian "). In his work was greatly influenced by the aesthetic principles artists association "World of Art". In easel painting and theatrical works Lissy developed decorative motifs characteristic miriskusnikam, however, he was an artist of "broad-minded, familiar with constructivism and new directions in European art, especially art deco.

creativity of the artist is represented in many museums around the world, including in the Luxembourg Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, the Albertina Museum in Vienna, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the National Museum of Ceramics in Sevres , the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the National Collection of Fine Arts in Washington.