BOGOMAZOV Alexander Konstantinovich

March 26, 1880 (Yampol, Kharkov province) — June 3, 1930 (Kiev)

Painter, graphic artist, art theoretician

In 1896–1902 Bogomazov studied at Kherson School for Agriculture. In 1902 he entered Kiev Art School (KKhU), where he became acquainted with A. A. Ekster. During the revolution in 1905 Bogomazov was expelled from the School for participating in political demonstrations and strikes. In the same year he moved to Moscow, where he studied at private studios of F. I. Rerberg and K. F. Yuon.

In 1906 Bogomazov returned to Kiev, and continued education at Kiev Art School. Since then he began to expose his works. Bogomazov was an active participant of exhibitions of the groups Zveno (“The Link”) and Koltso (“The Ring”). He participated in exhibitions of the Union of Russian Artists (SRKh) and Moscow Society of Independent Artists. In 1911 he traveled to Finland as reporter of the newspaper Kievskaya Mysl (“Kiev Thought”). In 1912–1915 Bogomazov taught at School for deaf and mute in Kiev. Bogomazov was close to Moscow Futurists; he took interest in the works of the Italian Futurists. In 1914 Bogomazov published the theoretical study The Art of Painting, where he developed his art conception.

In 1915 Bogomazov moved to the Caucasus; he continued to paint, and worked as a teacher. In 1917 he returned to Kiev. In 1917–1918 he taught art disciplines at Zolotonosha Commercial School, Kiev Art and Handcrafts School, the Printing Studio, the Boyar’s Primary School. Since 1919 he lectured at the First State Studio for decorative arts.

In 1919–1920 Bogomazov created designs of agitation transport, including agitation trains. In early 1920s he was head of Department for Art Education in the Ukrainian Committee for Visual Arts. In 1922–1930 Bogomazov together with V. E. Tatlin and V .G. Meller taught at Kiev Institute of Plastic Arts (since 1924 — Kiev Art Institute). In 1927 he became one of the founders of the Association of Ukrainian Revolutionary Art.

Bogomazov was buried at the Lukyanov cemetery in Kiev.

Bogomazov was one of the leaders of the Ukrainian avant-garde of the first third of the 20th century. His creative biography could be divided into two periods: Cubo-Futurism (1913–1917) and Spectralism (1917–1920).

Bogomazov’s creative work was some kind of experiment with rhythmic systems. Lines of his pictorial and graphic works were intense and dynamic; the figures were in continuous movement. Art style of Bogomazov was close to the manner of the Italian Futurists and Symbolists.

Works by Alexander Bogomazov are in many museum and private collections.