Sonia Delaunay (Russian 1885-1979)
One of the most brilliant designer-decorators of the century, Sonia Delaunay was born in the Ukraine, and studied drawing in Karlsruhe, Germany, then at the Académie de la Palette, Paris together with Aman-Jean, Cottet and Jacques-Emil Blanche. Her marriage to the painter Robert Delaunay, established one of the most famous and productive artistic partnerships of modern times.
When she and her husband exhibited in Berlin in 1912 they profoundly affected a number of artists including Paul Klee. Soon after she painted a series of works entitled Prismes Electriques, in which she sought to evaluate the quality and symbolism of power.
On her return to Paris in 1920 the Delaunays became allied with the Surrealists. She received her first commission for fabric design in 1923 from Lyon firm and later produced her own fabrics for famous actresses, these, being now produced by St Laurent, Cardin and Dior.
In 1930 she decided to concentrate on painting, exhibiting widely with groups devoted to abstract art. Awarded Grand Prix at the International Salon for Women, Cannes, 1969 and Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris in 1973. She was the first woman artist to have an exhibition at the Louvre during her life-time thereby establishing her unique position.
Public collections include
Dimon Museum, Israel
Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.
Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris
Museum of Art, Philadelphia
Museum of Modern Art, New York
National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
Tate, London
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne
Bibliography
B. DORIVAL, La Donation Delaunay, in La Revue du Louvre, catalogue, Paris, 1963 ;B. DORIVAL, Sonia Delaunay, catalogue, Paris, 1965 ; J. DAMASE, Sonia Delaunay: Rhythms and Colours, London, 1972 ; Robert and Sonia Delaunay, exhibition catalogue, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 1965.